Capital Murder Trial Describes a Robbery Gone All Wrong

SAN ANGELO, TX — An accomplice in the 2021 homicide of Jacob Hernandez gave new insights Monday into what happened the night Hernandez was killed at the Nueva Vista Apartments, 2401 N Lillie St, during the opening day of the murder trial for Francisco Morales.

Morales is on trial for capital murder. According to police reports, Morales pulled the trigger of the gun that killed Jacob Hernandez with a gunshot wound to the chest in the early morning hours of May 26, 2021.

Amethyst Deanda took the stand and testified that she and two other individuals — Morales and Eric Aguillon — drove from Abilene to San Angelo on May 25, 2021, to “hit a lick,” which she said was a street term for committing a robbery.

The teenagers then picked up another individual, David Rodriguez, to help with the robbery a few hours after midnight.

Deanda said Morales then exchanged marijuana for a gun before he and Rodriguez entered the apartment, where they planned to rob a woman, Crystal Ramirez.

They did not expect a man to be in the apartment, she said.

While waiting in the car with Aguillon, Deanda said they heard a loud bang. When Morales and Rodriguez returned to the car, she asked what happened, and Morales said he shot someone, according to Deanda.

Deanda then identified Morales in a Ring video, where he was seen carrying an Adidas backpack that was left in the apartment.

A gun used in the robbery and homicide was also left at the top of the stairs leading to the apartment.

Bullet Hole Found in Child’s Bedroom Door

Among the numerous individuals that testified Monday, crime scene investigations supervisor Robin Hooper detailed what she saw in the apartment.

Hooper said six shell casings were discovered, three from a 9 millimeter and three from a .380 caliber gun.

One of the bullets recovered went through the door of a 7-year-old child’s bedroom and lodged in the bottom of a wall near the base board, about eight feet from her bed while she was asleep in the room.

The victim, 26-year-old Jacob Hernandez, was found lying on his back on his bed with a gunshot wound near the top of his chest by the time the first responding police officer arrived.

Hooper said she also smelled what she believed was marijuana in the kitchen.

Defendant Arrives Late For Trial

When the trial began at 9 a.m. Monday, Morales was nowhere to be found, prompting Judge Jay Weatherby to revoke his $500,000 bond.

Morales showed up about 10 minutes late, but Weatherby stood by his decision due to the defendant being tardy.

Morales objected and said he “could’ve just not showed up.”

The trial began soon after the matter was settled.

Neighbor, Police Officers, Experts Testify

A next-door neighbor who called 911 testified about waking up to gunshots.

She said she then heard people running downstairs, and she heard her neighbor, Crystal Ramirez, crying.

The first police officers on the scene also testified what they encountered.

One of them picked up the gun left at the top of the stairs. He didn’t have gloves on, but he said he made the split-second decision to do so because of safety concerns.

A forensic scientist explained that she found the DNA of Morales on the backpack left at the scene, along with a lighter inside the backpack.

A ballistics specialist also testified that the bullets found at the scene were consistent with those of a 9 millimeter and a .380 caliber gun.

The trial will resume at 9 a.m. Tuesday with five more witnesses expected to be called.