SAN ANTONIO – A man
found guilty for his role in a 2018 murder was sentenced to 65 years in prison
on Tuesday.
Joseph Alvarado was sentenced to 65 years in the murder of Tarik Ross, who was shot and killed on March 6, 2018, by individuals who set up a meeting to purchase marijuana. Ross met these individuals in a car with his girlfriend and their two-year old son. During the encounter, one man entered the back seat of Ross’s vehicle next to the couple’s toddler. Soon after, he pulled out a weapon and told them not to move. The man then exited the vehicle and attempted to open the driver’s side door where Ross was sitting.
Trying to escape, Ross put the car in reverse. Joseph Alvarado, who was waiting in another vehicle, then approached Ross’s car. Alvarado and the other individual opened fire on the car’s driver’s side door. Ross was shot in three times, including once in the head. His girlfriend and young son were not hurt.
A jury found Alvarado guilty of murder. Judge Jennifer Peña then sentenced Alvarado to 65 years in prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys
Kristina Escalona and Jason Wolff.
“With the last of the men responsible for Tarik’s death
sentenced on Tuesday, our hope is that the Ross family can now move towards
peace and closure. That is the outcome our office strives for
as we seek justice,” Escalona said.
In another case on Tuesday, a judge sentenced a driver to prison for a
car crash that left a woman in his car seriously injured.
Kassey Williams was convicted of aggravated assault for the
June 2017 crash. Williams lost control of the car he was driving, crossed into
oncoming traffic and slammed into a pole. His passenger was pinned inside. She
suffered multiple broken bones, lost her spleen and suffered brain trauma as a
result of the crash. She continues to suffer from memory loss and is fully
disabled.
Williams initially claimed someone else was driving the car
when it crashed. After the incident, an analysis of Williams’ blood showed low
levels of methamphetamine, cocaine and cocaine metabolite. Officers also found
meth in Williams’ pocket and a gun under the driver’s seat.
After hearing evidence of Williams’ criminal history and a
sexual assault committed by Williams months before the DWI crash, Judge
Catherine Torres-Stahl sentenced Williams to 35 years in prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys
Christian Neumann and Miranda Carrillo.
“Judge Torres-Stahl was thorough, fair and considerate of both parties in considering a sentence that appropriately addresses the harm that Mr. Williams perpetrated on the people in his life. His sentence ensures that he will be unable to harm any other citizens of Bexar County and also sends
a clear message about both driving while intoxicated and sexual assault,” Neumann said.