He Lost A Fight With Two Brothers And Fellow Schoolmates. Two Days Later, He Killed Them.

A Texas man killed two brothers and fellow schoolmates after losing a fight. Now, he will never walk free again.

Recently, a Harris County judge sentenced Marlon Brandon Valdez, 22, to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the shooting death of Julio Aguilar, 23, and Maximo Aguilar, 20.

After a week's trial, Valdez was found guilty and convicted by a jury of capital murder.

“The families of these victims will never see their loved ones again because a teenager with an assault rifle decided to execute two teenagers he got in a fight with. Far too often, young people think they can do whatever they want, and hurt whoever they want, and just escape the consequences. But the consequences are real,” said Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg.

On Feb. 21, 2019, Houston police officers responded to a cul-de-sac residence on East Brook Drive, close to Jacinto City, after reports of a shooting and homicide. When officer arrived, they found the bodies of Julio, Maximo and two others injured at the scene.

According to prosecutors, the defendant, then 18 years old, had gotten into a fight with the brothers two days earlier. The fight took place at the same location as the crime scene. The vacant house which was tagged “The Settling Spot” was popular among the youths in the area.

After his loss, Valdez told the brothers he wanted a rematch at the same location. Hence, the Aguilars obliged to the challenge.

Before the brothers arrived, the defendant hid at the top of the house, armed with an AR-15 assault rifle. As Julio and Maximo Aguilar exited their vehicle, Valdez opened fire on the duo and those who accompanied them to watch the fight. Fifty-eight shell casings were recovered at the scene.

Later, investigators found out the defendant and the victims knew each other from high school.

“They were all high school students. One of the victims had a baby on the way and the other had just had a baby, so their families were just devastated,” said Assistant District Attorney Joshua Raygor.

The motive for the initial fight remains unclear.