LUBBOCK, Texas – The sentencing phase of the trial for Kaleb Vasquez, who pleaded guilty to the murder of Roel Munoz, continued in downtown Lubbock on Wednesday. Over the course of two days, the jury heard testimony and is now poised to deliver a verdict. The defense team presented their case on Wednesday, aiming to shed light on the motive behind Vasquez’s random killing.
In their opening statement, the defense made it clear that they did not seek to justify the murder of Munoz. They called two medical professionals who had conducted mental health evaluations on Vasquez. One doctor testified that Vasquez had a history of drug abuse, starting at the age of 14. The doctor also revealed that Vasquez had taken a significant amount of methamphetamine the day before the murder. Vasquez admitted to the doctor that he had been experiencing hallucinations and was instructed by the devil to kill Munoz.
However, during cross-examination, the District Attorney argued that Vasquez still exhibited behavioral issues while in prison, even without drug use. The DA suggested that the doctors’ testimonies were solely based on the information provided by Vasquez and the defense.
Both sides concluded their cases on Wednesday afternoon, with closing arguments set for Thursday morning. This trial has been closely watched since it began, as it seeks to determine the appropriate punishment for Vasquez’s heinous crime.
Going back to the first day of the sentencing phase, the state opened with their perspective on the motive for the Walmart killing. They emphasized that there was no rational explanation for the act of violence. The jury then heard from Walmart employees and customers who were present at the time of the incident. A pharmacy employee recalled hearing a loud noise and discovering Munoz’s lifeless body. Another witness, a shopper, described finding Munoz’s body after hearing the gunshot and witnessing a hooded figure fleeing the scene. Video surveillance was played in court, capturing the moment when Vasquez shot Munoz in the head, provoking a gasp from the jury members.
The defense team had little to say at the start of the trial, focusing primarily on confirming whether witnesses had seen Vasquez pull the trigger. The state underscored the prosecution’s case by playing a jail call in which Vasquez’s mother asked if he knew the victim, to which he replied, “No, I just freaked out.” The state’s final witness, the emotional sister of the victim, provided a glimpse into who Munoz was and the devastating impact his murder had on the family. Munoz’s wife, who was battling cancer at the time, tragically passed away eight months later, compounding the loss for the sister.
The defense finally presented their case on the second day of the sentencing phase. While maintaining that Munoz’s murder was unjustifiable, they aimed to provide insight into the senselessness of Vasquez’s actions. Two mental health professionals took the stand and testified that Vasquez had admitted to using a large amount of methamphetamine before the murder. Vasquez claimed to have experienced hallucinations and heard the devil instructing him to kill Munoz, fearing for his family’s safety if he didn’t comply.
The prosecution, however, raised doubts about the doctors’ testimony, highlighting that their knowledge of Vasquez’s medical history was limited, having only met him recently. With both sides resting their cases, the focus now turns to the upcoming closing arguments and the jury’s imminent decision.
As this trial reaches its climactic stages, the fate of Kaleb Vasquez lies in the hands of the jury, who must delicately consider the evidence presented and the gravity of the crime committed in the Walmart that day.