A man charged with a triple murder in Garland has been found guilty by a jury after both sides wrapped up their arguments this Friday morning.
The jury deliberated for roughly four hours, according to WFAA, weighing carefully the pieces of evidence that had been brought before them over the course of this four-day trial.
In opening statements on Tuesday, the prosecution accused Richard Acosta of knowingly acting as the wheelman and accomplice for his 14-year-old son Abel, who allegedly shot and killed three teens and injured a fourth at a convenience store in December 2021, as The Dallas Express previously reported.
The defense claimed that the trial of Richard Acosta was just a charade to draw his son Abel out of hiding. His attorney stated that the elder Acosta was completely unaware of what transpired at the convenience store at the time of the shooting.
On Wednesday, jurors were shown a body cam video of Acosta turning himself in at the Garland Police Department, Fox 4 reported. In the video, Acosta stated he was there because friends said his picture was on the news and that he was wanted for questioning in the triple homicide in Garland.
In the video, Acosta appeared to cooperate with officials and told them they could find his white pickup truck — the one allegedly seen at the convenience store at the time of the shootings — in a Walmart parking lot.
Investigators testified that police seized the truck and processed it, and noted that it appeared someone had attempted to remove an identifying black marking on the side of the vehicle.
Forensic investigators testified that one of Abel Acosta’s fingerprints was found on the inside of his dad’s truck, and it matched a fingerprint lifted from the door of the convenience store. They also discussed bullet casings found at the crime scene, acknowledging that they did not match a gun found in Acosta’s truck, Fox 4 reported.
The prosecution presented cell phone evidence that placed Richard Acosta at the crime scene and indicated he had driven across the DFW area that night and the next day. Prosecutors alleged that Acosta was seeking the help of family members in the area to help his son evade authorities.
The jury also saw photos of the victims’ bodies and heard testimony from the medical examiners who conducted the autopsies on the victims.
On Thursday, Detective Lucas Shupe testified that Acosta appeared to be “casing” the store just prior to the shooting, Fox 4 reported. However, when Acosta took the stand later that afternoon, he presented a much different explanation of the events that took place at the store.
According to reporting by Fox 4, Acosta claimed he stopped at the store to get his wife some Tylenol and returned to the truck where his son was waiting.
He said that Abel asked about two teens who had walked into the store at about the same time. Acosta said he did not know who the boys were, but Abel said he wanted to talk to them about a necklace that he believed the boys had stolen.
Acosta said that his son did not appear angry, and he agreed to let him enter the store.
“I thought he was going to ask them a question, the whereabouts of his necklace. Nothing that alarmed me,” Acosta testified, as per Fox 4. He added that he had no idea that his son was carrying a weapon.
When asked what he would have done if he had known his son was armed, Acosta responded, “I would’ve got off [the truck]; I would’ve tried to do something. I would’ve tried to stop any situation if he was trying to harm somebody,” Fox 4 reported.
Acosta further testified that he was listening to the radio and completely unaware of what was happening in the store until he heard gunfire. He said Abel then jumped into the backseat and told him to drive because somebody in the store was shooting.
Acosta said that his son appeared scared and agitated as they drove home, so he did not press him about what happened at that time. When he attempted to check on him later, Acosta said his son was gone, and he claimed that he still has no idea where his son is or whether he is alive.
During his testimony, Acosta became emotional and cried, expressing sympathy for the victims’ families and grief over the prospect of never seeing his own son again.
On Friday, the defense rested and closing arguments were heard, as reported by WFAA.
Now that Acosta has been found guilty by the jury, the trial will progress to the sentencing phase. Acosta, who had been indicted for capital murder, may face life in prison without parole.
