MIDLAND, TX — Greg Anthony Barrera, III, aged 19, was sentenced to 60 years in prison and fined $10,000 by a Midland County jury for a murder at a rap concert, according to Midland County District Attorney Laura Nodolf.
Following a trial that spanned from Tuesday to Friday of the prior week, Nodolf's office confirmed that the jury reached a guilty verdict against Barrera for the charge of murder on Friday afternoon after deliberating for three and a half hours. Subsequently, during the trial's punishment phase, the jury, after an hour's deliberation, rendered the sentence of 60 years in prison and a maximum $10,000 fine shortly after 6:00 P.M.
Evidence introduced during the proceedings revealed that Barrera fired five shots at 19-year-old Samuel Anaya while Anaya was walking in an alley behind the Kessler’s Hall event venue on Wall Street on May 29, 2021. The shooting occurred after Barrera approached the victim by driving his truck from behind. Notably, Barrera was 17 years old at the time of the incident, legally considered an adult in the State of Texas, while Samuel Anaya was 19. Both individuals were present at the venue for a rap music showcase that drew a sizable crowd from the local music scene.
Authorities suspect the shooting was likely prompted by altercations among various factions associated with the local rap music scene. Trial evidence underscored the increase in shootings involving younger perpetrators and victims in Midland in recent years. The defendant, who had been free on bond pending trial, was apprehended and will be required to serve at least half of the imposed sentence before becoming eligible for parole. The Midland Police Department conducted the investigation into the shooting.
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