Man invited his 17-year-old friend to stay at his home for the night, only to grab a gun before they went to bed and shoot him nearly a dozen times in the back; sentenced
Texas – In a disturbing case in Texas, 21-year-old J. Sotelo has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for the murder of his teenage friend, C. Thompson. This harsh sentence reflects the gravity of his actions during a sleepover gone horribly wrong, where the 17-year-old victim was shot multiple times in the back while preparing for bed.
The incident occurred on the night of March 20, 2021, at the Sotelo family home. Thompson, who was merely 17 at the time, was spending the night at his friend’s house, looking forward to a fun night and a peaceful sleepover. However, the night took a lethal turn when Sotelo, who had dropped out of high school, grabbed a 9 mm semiautomatic handgun. According to prosecutors, Sotelo fired the weapon at least 13 times at Thompson as he was getting ready to sleep around 3 a.m. Thompson was struck 11 times in the back, indicating he was shot while turning away or fleeing.
One of the missed shots passed through Sotelo’s bedroom wall and struck his own brother in the face, who was also sleeping at the time. Fortunately, Sotelo’s brother survived the incident. This led to an additional charge against Sotelo for deadly conduct, for which he received a concurrent two-year sentence. Following the shooting, emergency responders and deputies from the sheriff’s office were quick to arrive at the scene. An intensive investigation followed, leading to Sotelo’s arrest and subsequent trial. A jury convicted him of murder after a six-day trial, and Judge J. Hill handed down the sentence.
During the trial, prosecutors highlighted the unprovoked and calculated nature of the killing, arguing that Sotelo’s actions were a clear danger to the community. His arrest record continued to grow even after being released on bond for murder, as he was rearrested for carrying a gun. These actions contributed to the decision for a lengthy incarceration.
DA K. Ogg emphasized the necessity of the sentence given Sotelo’s behavior and the brutality of the crime. “There was absolutely no reason for this cold-blooded murder, so we know this man is a danger to the community,” Ogg stated following the sentencing hearing. The victim’s family expressed mixed emotions about the sentence. While the court’s decision provided some measure of justice, the family had hoped for a stricter punishment, reflecting the irrevocable loss of Corey and the cruel manner of his death.
Assistant DA K. Tucker noted that Sotelo’s lack of remorse and refusal to acknowledge the severity of his actions played a significant role in seeking a harsher sentence. Sotelo claimed self-defense, stating that Thompson had attacked him, but this was quickly disproved by forensic evidence showing all wounds were inflicted from behind. Sotelo must serve at least half of his 40-year sentence before being eligible for parole, ensuring that he will spend a significant amount of time behind bars for his actions.
