A 27-year-old man was sentenced Thursday to 50 years in prison after he admitted to shooting and killing his uncle, his uncle’s girlfriend and their dog two years ago at a parking lot in Mackenzie Park.
Justin Aleman, who has been held at the Lubbock County Detention Center since his Sept. 14, 2024 arrest, appeared with his attorney,m Mark Snodgrass in the 34th District Court and pleaded guilty to two counts of murder and a count of animal cruelty in the Sept. 10, 2024 shooting deaths of 55-year-old Angel Aleman, 47-year-old Lydia Hernandez and their dog, “Monster.”
Murder carries a punishment of five years to life in prison. However, as part of his deal with the Lubbock County District Attorney’s Office, he agreed to two, concurrent 50-year sentences in exchange for his guilty plea.
Aleman was sentenced to the maximum of 10 years in prison for the animal cruelty charge, which will also run concurrently with the punishments for the murder charges.
He will have to serve half of his sentence — 25 years — before he is eligible for parole.
Aleman was one of two people charged in the homicide case. His brother, 24-year-old Joziah Aleman, is being held at the jail on pending counts of murder and animal cruelty.
Their charges stem from a Lubbock Metropolitan Special Crimes Unit investigation that began after Lubbock police officers responded to a shots fired call about 8:40 a.m. in the 300 block of Cesar E. Chaves Drive in Mackenzie Park.
Responding officers found Angel Aleman, Hernandez and their dog, suffering gunshot wounds.
Aleman and the dog were pronounced dead at the scene. Hernandez was taken by ambulance to University Medical Center where she died.
Witnesses at the scene told investigators that two vehicles, a white SUV and a gray SUV, left the scene immediately after the shooting, according to an arrest affidavit.
Investigators also obtained video from nearby security cameras that caught the shooting.
The video appears to show Hernandez and Aleman arriving in a vehicle and walking around.
Moments later, a gray SUV arrives from the west and drives toward the couple’s vehicle, stopping suddenly next to it.
The video shows two people approaching Aleman and Hernandez. During the encounter, one person is seen falling to the ground. A second person is seen running toward the first person before also falling to the ground.
Meanwhile, the other subjects in the video can be seen fleeing the scene in separate vehicles.
The white SUV could be seen leaving the scene toward I-27 and the gray SUV speeds away westbound, according to the document.
Investigators collected two weapons of the same caliber at the scene. Investigators believe they were used in the shooting, the affidavit states.
An anonymous caller reportedly left a tip for investigators identifying Justin Aleman as the shooter.
Investigators learned that Justin Aleman drove a white Chevrolet Traverse, which police found at his home.
Meanwhile, investigators learned that Joziah Aleman drove a gray Hyundai Santa Fe.
Investigators spoke with the brothers separately.
Justin Aleman reportedly confirmed that his vehicle was the same white SUV seen in the security camera video. He also reportedly admitted to being at the scene during the shooting, the affidavit states.
However, the interview concluded after he asked for an attorney.
Meanwhile, Josiah Aleman told investors that he drove to the park after his brother called him. He said he arrived prepared to fight their uncle, Angel.
During the interview, Joziah reportedly made statements indicating that his brother shot their uncle, Hernandez and their dog. His interview with detectives also ended after he asked for an attorney.
Investigators also obtained a statement from a witness who was not identified in the affidavit, who said Justin Aleman admitted to shooting his uncle and Hernandez.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Suspect in slaying of Lubbock couple, dog sentenced to 50 years
Reporting by Gabriel Monte, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal / Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
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