A 17-year-old boy in Texas has been charged as an adult after he allegedly murdered the stepfather of the girl he started stalking because she rebuffed his advances.
The Houston Police Department on Friday announced detectives arrested Cristian Gasca Martinez for murder in the death of 37-year-old Osvaldo Casas.
Martinez Started Stalking the Girl After She Rebuffed His Advances, was Confronted by Casas Before the Murder
Martinez allegedly shot Casas shortly before 12:30 a.m. Aug. 10 in the 600 block of Loper Street in southeast Houston. Cops responded to the scene and found Casas suffering from several gunshot wounds. Paramedics pronounced him dead on scene.
Police said at the time that Casas confronted a "suspicious" person on his street before the shooting. Further investigation determined that Martinez had been pursuing a romantic relationship with Casas' 16-year-old stepdaughter, but the girl told him she was not interested, a complaint says.
Martinez allegedly began stalking the girl. He kept calling the girl despite her asking him to refrain from doing so and she had to block his number, according to a courtroom report from local CBS affiliate KHOU.
Martinez Had Posted Threats on Social Media, Including Images of Him Holding a Gun
He also reportedly posted threats on social media that included posting photos of him holding a gun. Martinez then shot Casas "in retaliation for being rejected" by the girl, the complaint said.
In a GoFundMe page, the victim's wife Judith Molina said her husband died "while bravely protecting our family." Making matters even more tragic was the fact that Molina and Casas were expecting a baby boy. Casas' family laid him to rest on Aug. 20. Three days later, Molina gave birth to a baby boy.
A judge set Martinez's bond at $200,000. Cops arrested him Thursday and took him to the Harris County Jail where he remains.
