Shootout suspect gets probation
Published 4:29 pm Saturday, April 13, 2013
The second of three suspects in a December shootout in Austin was sentenced Friday in Mower County Court and will not go to prison.
Reynaldo Veraza, 36, received a stayed prison sentence for five years’ supervised probation and a $1,000 fine. He must also complete 100 hours of community service. He was convicted of second-degree riot with a dangerous weapon.
Raymundo Veraza, 35, Reynaldo’s brother, was sentenced to five years in prison.
He was convicted 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.
Officers went to the 700 block of 11th Street Northeast 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 another man was the aggressor and shot out the back window of Reynaldo’s SUV after a fight in the street.
That suspect, 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 crime of violence in possession of a firearm. He has a pretrial set for May 3.