New Mexico
New Mexico man sentenced to 25 years in prison in 2021 fatal El Paso bar shooting
Hit-and-run driver kills El Paso man next to EPCC Valle Verde
El Paso police search for hit-and-driver who killed Jesus Fernando Perez, 52, on North Loop Drive next to EPCC Valle Verde on March 21, 2025.
Provided by Crime Stoppers of El Paso
A New Mexico man was sentenced to prison in the 2021 fatal shooting outside a South-Central El Paso bar.
Judge Sam Medrano of the 409th District Court sentenced Daniel Torres, 42, of La Union, New Mexico, on March 27 to 25 years in prison for the fatal Oct. 15, 2021, shooting of 28-year-old Alfredo Morales, El Paso District Attorney’s Office officials said in a news release.
Torres was sentenced to 25 years in prison on one count each of manslaughter and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. The sentences will be served concurrently, court records show. The sentencing took place at the Enrique Moreno County Courthouse in Downtown El Paso.
Torres pleaded guilty to the charges the same day as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors. As part of the plea agreement, Torres waived his appellate rights, according to the news release.
Torres had previously been convicted twice of felony theft. He was sentenced to four years in prison each time on those charges, according to the news release.
Torres kills Morales during shoot-out outside South-Central El Paso bar
The shooting happened about 12:20 a.m. Oct. 15, 2021, outside Cazadores Cantina at the corner of Durazno Avenue and Copia Street in South-Central El Paso.
Jorge J. Garcia Reyes, 36, and another person were leaving the bar when Garcia and Morales got into an argument, El Paso Police Department officials said.
Morales allegedly took out a gun and shot Garcia once in the chest. Torres pulled out a gun and shot Morales several times, killing him before fleeing the scene, police said.
Garcia was taken to University Medical Center of El Paso for treatment. The severity of Garcia’s injuries was never disclosed by police.
A police investigation identified Torres as the shooter. An arrest warrant was issued for Torres.
A U.S Marshals fugitive task force arrested Torres Nov. 5, 2021, in La Union, police said.
Torres was held at the Doña Ana County Detention Center until Nov. 10, 2021, when he was extradited to El Paso. He remained jailed on a $1 million bond as his case remained pending in district court, jail logs show.
Cazadores Cantina’s liquor permit was suspended soon after the shooting by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. The El Paso County Attorney’s Office temporarily shut down the bar in 2023, claiming “habitual criminal activity” was occurring at the bar. The bar was reputedly known for prostitution and as a Barrio Azteca hangout, county attorney’s office officials said in 2023.
Aaron Martinez covers the criminal justice system for the El Paso Times. He may be reached at amartinez1@elpasotimes.com or on X/Twitter @AMartinezEPT.
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UNM plans to build new gates along Central
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The University of New Mexico plans to build new gates at four campus entrances along Central that will close nightly.
The gates will replace manual barriers in a project expected to cost about $1.5 million.
The Board of Regents approved the security upgrades for the UNM campus.
University officials said the gates will automatically close nightly from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
The gates will go in near Princeton Drive, Stanford Drive, Yale Boulevard and Terrace Street on the south end of campus.
A current rendering shows the gate completely blocking the road. Officials said the change will reduce unauthorized traffic and allow police officers to focus more effectively on prevention and response.
Construction will start in May. University officials hope to finish the project by September.
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