MISSION – A Mission man was sentenced to life in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice – Institutional Division for the shooting death of his H-E-B co-worker.

An in-person jury trial was held from March 15-29, 2022 in the 93^rd District Court for Raul Lopez, 31, who was convicted in the murder of Mario Pulido. The jury handed down the verdict on March 29, 2022.

The Honorable Judge Fernando Mancias presided over the trial. The case was prosecuted by Felony Division Assistant District Attorney’s Maggie Hinojosa and Juan Bazan; with assistance from Victim Advocate’s Kayla Contreras and Jennifer Longoria; the Palmview Police Department; the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office; the Peñitas Police Department; and the Texas Rangers.

“I want to commend ADA Maggie Hinojosa and Juan Bazan for their hard work and dedication in receiving a guilty verdict,” said Criminal District Attorney Ricardo Rodriguez Jr. “Our community can rest safe knowing a violent offender has been taken off the streets and will spend the rest of his life behind bars.”

On November 28, 2016, while on break for his overnight shift at H-E-B, Lopez got out of his truck, walked up to a breakroom window where his coworkers were eating lunch, and opened fire. He shot and killed Mario Pulido and injured Billy Joe Martinez, Rafael Martinez, and Freilan Garza. At trial, the defense presented an insanity defense, but the jury found him sane and guilty on all counts.

Lopez was formally sentenced on April 26, 2022 for Count One – Murder (1st degree felony); Count Two, Four and Six – Attempt to Commit Murder (2nd degree felony); Count Three, Five and Seven – Aggravated Assault with Deadly Weapon (2nd  degree felony); and Count Eight – Attempt to Commit Capital Murder of Multiple Persons (1st degree felony).

Lopez’s sentences will run concurrent. He received Life for Count 1; 10 years for Count 2 and 3; 15 years for Count 4 and 5; 20 years for Count 6 and 7; and Life for Count 8.