Austin shooting suspect sent to prison for 5 years

Published 8:18 am Friday, March 29, 2013

One of three suspects in a December shootout in Austin was sentenced to five years in prison on Thursday.

Raymundo Veraza, 35, was convicted in Mower County Court of being a felon convicted of a violent crime in possession of a firearm, and second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, both felonies. He must also pay $420 in restitution.

Raymundo’s brother, Reynaldo Veraza, 36, will be sentenced on April 12 for second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon for his role. Reynaldo pleaded guilty on Jan. 31.

Email newsletter signup

Officers went to the 700 block of 11th Street Northeast Austin at 4 p.m. Dec. 3 after a call about gunshots. Police also received a call at 4:45 p.m. from Reynaldo, who said he was shot in the chest. He was later treated and was OK.

The Verazas originally told police Molina was the aggressor and shot out the back window of Reynaldo’s SUV after a fight in the street.

Yet another in the case, Fidel Molina, 31, of Austin, claimed Reynaldo and his brother, Raymundo, were the aggressors. He said the Verazas drove separate vehicles by his house, parked across the street and argued with the man in the street. Molina claims Raymundo drew a gun, so Molina yelled to his friend in the street before he and that man ran behind the house. Molina and that man reported hearing gunshots. According to the court complaint, Molina admitted to grabbing a .22-caliber rifle and returning fire, which struck Reynaldo’s SUV and hit Reynaldo in the chest.

Detectives found .22-caliber and 9 mm shell casings at the scene. According to the court complaint, gunfire from Raymundo went through Molina’s house and lodged into a neighbor’s house, too.

A witness nearby also saw men standing by the SUVs and arguing before one raised his arm and fired shots. The witness said someone returned fire from near the house, as well.

Molina previously pleaded not guilty to felony charges for second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon and felon convicted of a violent crime in possession of a firearm. He has a pretrial set for May 3.