A Texas man, Aaron Cervantes, was charged with capital murder after allegedly shooting his uncle, Fernando Madrid, dead in a dispute over ownership of two pet roosters. The incident occurred in the Rio Grande Valley and Cervantes was held on a $2 million bond. Family members reported that Cervantes arrived at Madrid’s home to reclaim the fowl he believed he owned. A confrontation between the two men ensued, with Cervantes ultimately pulling out a handgun and shooting Madrid inside the house. Madrid was found dead in a bathroom with a gunshot wound, and Cervantes was the only one charged in the shooting.
Authorities released a second man who was initially thought to be involved in the shooting, determining that he had no role in the incident. Madrid’s stepdaughter, Lynette Garzaa, created a GoFundMe page to help cover the costs of his funeral. She described the murder of her stepfather and asked for donations to help give him a proper send-off. The fundraising page indicated that Madrid’s funeral was scheduled for the following Monday, with a fundraising goal of $10,000. By Sunday afternoon, the page had raised $295 towards that goal.
While it is unclear if the dispute between Cervantes and Madrid was related to cockfighting, a prevalent issue in rural Texas, where people engage in illegal bird fighting for sport and betting. In the state of Texas, capital murder conviction can result in either the death penalty or life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Cervantes was being held in the Hidalgo County Jail following the shooting, but details about his legal representation were not immediately available. The incident sheds light on the dangers of disputes escalating to violence, especially over issues as trivial as ownership of pet animals. The tragic outcome resulted in the loss of a life and a family seeking financial support for funeral expenses.
