• Daniel Torres, 42, was sentenced to 25 years in prison for the shooting death of Alfredo Morales.
• Torres pleaded guilty to manslaughter and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.
• The shooting occurred outside Cazadores Cantina in South-Central El Paso in 2021.

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.

More: El Paso police arrest NM man on murder charge in fatal shooting outside Cazadores Cantina

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.

More: South-Central El Paso bar closed after county attorney alleges habitual criminal activity

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.