Terry Rivera has accepted a plea deal after being charged with capital murder in the 2024 shooting of 12-year-old Carlos Fernandez, the son of Rivera’s former partner.
Rivera pled guilty to the murder and received a 50-year sentence on Tuesday.
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12-year-old killed while sleeping
On March 4, 2024, Harris County deputies were dispatched to an apartment on Alderson Street after people reported a gunshot.
According to Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, Rivera previously dated the 12-year-old’s mother and had two children with her. They spent six years together and two years apart.
Harris County deputies were confirmed to have responded to the home prior to the incident. Fernandez’s mother claims Rivera dropped the kids off around 10 p.m. and was loud and belligerent.
The mother had two friends with her to help get the kids out of the truck, but as she approached, Rivera pushed her, causing her to stumble backward, according to HCSO.
As they led the children inside the house, Rivera grabbed a pistol from next to the truck and yelled at her again. Officials said he didn’t point the handgun at anyone.
Rivera is thought to have shot through the window of his ex-partner’s residence. Sheriff Gonzalez earlier stated that Carlos was sleeping in the living room and fled into his sisters’ room when he heard the disturbance.
Authorities said they recovered the grey pickup truck suspected to have been used by the suspect during the shooting.
Arrested at U.S. – Mexico border
Rivera was apprehended at the US-Mexico border on March 11, 2024.
On Monday, CBP officials submitted Rivera for a secondary check at the Gateway International Bridge. Using biometric verification and federal databases, they identified an outstanding felony warrant for capital murder from the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.
Rivera was turned over to Cameron County Sheriff’s deputies for additional investigation.
