(USNewsMag.com) – A man in Texas was handed a life sentence last week for the fatal shooting of two hospital employees in Dallas last year while he was arguing with his girlfriend after she had just given birth.
A jury found 31-year-old Nestor Hernandez guilty of murder for the deaths of a nurse and a social worker at the Methodist Dallas Medical Center. The two women, 63-year-old Katie Annette Flowers and 45-year-old Jacqueline Pokuaa, died from gunfire after Hernandez opened fire inside the facility.
Hernandez received an automatic life sentence without parole, and prosecutors did not push for the death penalty. Jurors were asked by defense attorneys if they would consider a lesser charge, arguing that although their client opened fire in the medical center, he did not intend to kill anymore. Hernandez took the stand at trial and admitted that he shot the two women by accident.
According to John Creuzot, the Dallas District Attorney, Hernandez entered the hospital that day full of “rage” and “resentment,” as well as “a plan to kill.” Prosecutors argued that his motivation for the plan was a belief by Hernandez that he was not the true father of the newborn baby and that his girlfriend, Selena Villatoro, cheated on him. Evidence was presented in court proving Hernandez is, in fact, the father.
In her testimony, Villatoro said that she was accused of infidelity by Hernandez and that he hit her with his gun. She said her boyfriend threatened to kill himself, her, and anyone else who entered the room. When Pokuaa came into the room, he shot her. According to Hernandez, Pokuaa was shot by accident when the gun misfired as he fought with Villatoro. He then claims to have panicked and shot into the hallway, hitting Flowers.
Police arrived, shot Hernandez in the thigh during their altercation, and arrested Hernandez. He was already on parole for a previous aggravated robbery charge. He received special permission to be at the hospital and wore an ankle monitor.
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