A man who evaded law enforcement for two months following a tragic shooting at Tequila KC bar in Kansas City, Kansas, has been convicted on multiple felony charges. Hugo Villanueva-Morales, 35, was found guilty on Wednesday of eight felonies, including capital murder, attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault, four counts of aggravated battery, and criminal possession of a firearm.
Villanueva-Morales is set to face a life sentence without the possibility of parole when he is formally sentenced on July 1. His attorney, Mark Manna, indicated that the prosecution decided to withdraw their notice seeking the death penalty in exchange for Villanueva-Morales waiving his right to a jury trial. The bench trial that ensued featured testimony from more than two dozen witnesses.
The violent incident occurred on October 6, 2019, when Villanueva-Morales and an accomplice, Javier Alatorre, reportedly entered the bar and opened fire. Police investigations have suggested that the shooting was a retaliation linked to a prior dispute that took place earlier inside the establishment. The two men, armed with handguns, initiated the attack resulting in four fatalities and five injuries.
While Alatorre was apprehended shortly after the shooting, Villanueva-Morales managed to flee to Mexico, where he remained at large until he was apprehended two months later. Alatorre has since entered a guilty plea to four counts of second-degree murder and is currently serving a 34-year sentence.
Both suspects had encountered legal troubles prior to the shooting. At the time of the bar incident, Villanueva-Morales was facing an unresolved third-degree assault charge in Missouri. Court records reveal that in August 2019, he had an altercation with a sheriff's deputy after another individual was removed from a nightclub in Kansas City, Missouri.
Additionally, Villanueva-Morales had a prior criminal history that included a prison sentence of over four years for robbery. While incarcerated, he was found in possession of synthetic marijuana. Although the judge had the discretion to impose a nine-year prison term upon his release, he opted for probation instead. Villanueva-Morales subsequently violated the terms of his probation by testing positive for marijuana and had left jail only a week before the shooting incident.
On the other hand, Alatorre was already facing several legal charges arising from a police pursuit at the time of the bar shooting, which contributed to the serious nature of both individuals’ legal predicaments.
