BROWNSVILLE, TX -- Relatives of a Border Patrol agent murdered by a Mexican national in 2014 testified in what became an emotional sentencing hearing at a South Texas courtroom as it winds down to its final stage.
The state called on five members of the Vega family to take the stand in an effort to show the jury the emotional damage the now-convicted murderer has caused them.
Emotions ran high during the second day of the sentencing phase in the trial of Gustavo Tijerina Sandoval, an undocumented Mexican found guilty Wednesday of killing off-duty Border Patrol agent Javier Vega Jr.
“I wish it would’ve been me,” Marie Vega told jurors as she recalled the moment she found her son dead.
One after the other, members of the Vega family shared their struggles of coping with the shooting death of Vega Jr. the evening of August 3, 2014.
“He’s not going to be there for any of their adult life, never going to be there again,” Javier Vega III said, referring to his father and his children.
Vega Sr. pleaded to the jury to sentence his son’s killer with the maximum punishment.
“I think they should give me, to be honest with you, an eye for an eye,” he said.
Marie Vega, present during the deadly robbery attempt while the family was out fishing, recalled some of her most cherished moments with her son while holding large photo print-outs of him.
“You’ve got someone like Gustavo Tijerina Sandoval to show up and think he’s entitled to whatever you have with no respect for human life,” she said to the jury.
With that, the state rested its case.
One last witness is expected to testify for the defense on Monday, then closing arguments will take place. That’s when the jury will make its decision to either send Tijerina to life in prison or death row.