Jury sentences man convicted of Capital Murder to 60 years in prison

A jury has sentenced Gustavo Valencia to 60 years in prison.

Friday, the same jury convicted Valencia of Capital Murder in connection with the October 2014 killing of 18-year-old Aaron Ochoa near Downtown El Paso.

Police charged Valencia, Miguel Bygoytia, and Armando Torres for Ochoa’s murder.

At the time of the killing, Ochoa was attending The Paso del Norte Academy. Investigators said he had just gotten out of class when he was gunned down in a parking lot near Stanton Street and Rio Grande.

Bygoytia allegedly helped Valencia shot the victim. Torres was the alleged getaway driver. Court documents state Bygoytia and Ochoa had gotten into a argument earlier in the day.

During the trial, jurors heard from Jason Cagann, a witness who heard what sounded like fireworks while in his vehicle the day of the killing.

Cagann told jurors he was afraid and remained inside his vehicle, but saw, through his rear view mirror, people gathering around a body lying in the street.

Cagann allegedly saw the gunman fire several more rounds at the body, then leave in a black SUV.

Defense attorneys questioned Cagann’s use of the word “black cats” to describe the fireworks since the name was not used in the police report.

When asked about the gunman, Cagann was unable to say which hand the gunman used to fire the weapon.

Bygoytia and Torres are awaiting trial.