A jury found Pete Garcia, Jr., 56 of Levelland guilty of murder. He was accused of gunning down Orestes West Garza outside the St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church in Lubbock in February 2016.
Garza was dating Garcia’s ex-wife, according to information presented at trial. His text messages indicated he was not happy with that relationship. Garcia still considered her to be his wife “in God’s eyes,” according to the text messages.
There was also evidence that Garcia admitted to other people that he shot Garza. He turned himself in to authorities in Levelland a few hours after the shooting in Lubbock.
Garza died at University Medical Center after the shooting.
The punishment phase of the trial began Monday afternoon. The maximum penalty might be 99 years or life in prison.
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