INFORMATION RELEASE (3)
THURSDAY, JANUARY 12, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
EVENT #21-1382, CAPITAL MURDER
Monday, January 9, 2023, the Capital Murder trial against Omar Guerra, AGE 44, and his brother Alex Guerra, AGE 53, began. Both stood accused of working together to murder 32 YOA Joseph Degrange and his sister, 37 YOA Rebekah Degrange on January 23, 2021. The two waited for the victims to both be at home. Omar then went inside their trailer and shot both to death. As a result, APPD charged Omar with Capital Murder and Alex with Hindering Apprehension/Prosecution of a Known Felon. When the case went before the Grand Jury, both were indicted for Capital Murder.
APPD detectives had to work around the clock and travel to the Valley chasing leads and evidence in this case. Finally, after much arduous investigative effort, the brothers were arrested and charged with Capital Murder. They’ve remained in jail pending trial since the time of their arrest.
Today, Thursday, January 12, 2023, a jury of their peers finished listening to arguments and found Omar Guerra guilty of capital murder. As a result, Omar will spend the rest of his life in prison. The death penalty was not pursued in this case. Alex was found not guilty of Capital Murder.
I appreciate the hard work of my detectives and the support we received from the witnesses in this case. When the community’s people stand up against senseless violence and criminals like this, the quality of life for all improves. Thank you, jury, for your job sitting through this challenging case and clearly stating through your judgment that such callous violence will not be tolerated in San Patricio County, Texas! Likewise, we sincerely appreciate the hard work put into litigating this case by District Attorney Sam Smith’s office. A lot of trial prep was necessary because this was no easy case to put together.
My heart goes out to the Degrange family, and I hope this conviction brings you at least a little comfort, given the trauma your family has suffered. God Bless you.
– Chief Eric Blanchard
Investigator Brian Herbert suffered a heart attack while qualifying at the shooting range at 8657 Co Road 1701 in Hominy, Oklahoma.
After completing the pistol qualification, he started complaining...
Deputy Sheriff Fred Fislar was electrocuted when he came in contact with live wires while investigating a crash scene at State Road 267 and County Road 300 South near Plainfield...
Lieutenant Michel Hoosock and Police Officer Michael Jensen, of the Syracuse Police Department, were shot and killed while attempting to locate a subject who had led officers on a vehicle...
Police Officer Michael Jensen and Lieutenant Michel Hoosock, of the Onondaga County Sheriff's Office, were shot and killed while attempting to locate a subject who had led officers on a...
Sergeant Marty Jackson suffered a fatal heart attack after arresting a subject for disorderly conduct, public intoxication, and resisting arrest.
At 3:56 a.m., Sergeant Jackson responded to a call for service...
Police Officer Ross Bartlett was killed when his patrol car was struck by another vehicle as he conducted a traffic stop on southbound Highway 77 near Little Salt Road at...
Chief of Police Steven Singer suffered a fatal heart attack after several subjects fled from him near the dam at Lake Lafayette shortly before 6:00 pm.
He had responded to the...
Correctional Sergeant Drew Faught was killed in a vehicle collision on St. Marie Road in Olney.
At 7:30 a.m., Sergeant Faught was en route to a tactical call at the...
Police Officer Joseph McKinney was shot and killed while investigating a suspicious vehicle at the intersection of Charter Avenue and Horn Lake Road at about 2:00 am.
He and...
Special Agent Sean Baer was killed in a head-on vehicle crash at the intersection of Route 9 and Oak Lee Drive in Ranson, West Virginia, at about 1:50 pm.
An oncoming...
