A Dallas County grand jury voted on February 17 to indict the Richard Acosta Jr., father of a 14-year-old boy who allegedly shot and killed three people at a Garland gas station on December 26, 2021.
Richard Acosta Jr. is accused of aiding his 14-year-old son, Abel Acosta, in the murder of three teenagers at the gas station after police said he helped his son flee the scene of the incident.
Authorities accused Richard Acosta of driving the pickup truck that Abel had fled in after carrying out the shooting. Richard turned himself in to Garland police after seeing himself on the news.
According to previous reports by The Dallas Express, Richard Acosta’s attorney, Heath Harris, claims evidence will show that his client did not know his son had a gun.
Harris said Richard Acosta and his son went to a store at the gas station to get medicine for his wife. Harris said his client went into the store alone to get the medicine while Abel waited in the truck. However, Abel told him he needed to get something in the store.
According to Harris, the 14-year-old went back into the store alone, and moments later, Richard Acosta heard gunshots but did not know who fired them.
According to Harris, the 14-year-old ran back to the truck and was hysterical. Harris added that his client drove them home before Abel got into another car and fled.
Harris maintained that Richard Acosta did not do anything to “solicit or encourage” the 14-year-old to carry out the fatal shooting and that evidence will show he went to look for his son afterward and could not find him.
According to The Dallas Morning News, Harris was shocked to receive news of his client’s indictment. Harris revealed that he did not know that the case was being presented to a grand jury and that the prosecution did not give him enough time to present his case before the grand jury.
Harris also revealed that he is confident Richard Acosta will testify during the trial.
“Absolutely, he’s gonna testify,” Harris said. “He has to testify because he’s the only one that can say whether or not he was a party to this offense to the extent prosecutors are trying to say.”
Police are still searching for Abel and are following up on several tips that might lead to his arrest. The Garland Police Department, along with Jerry Reynolds, the president of Car Pro Radio Network and owner of the radio station KPIR, are offering a combined $10,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest of the 14-year-old.
