DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF) – The man who shot and killed a Dallas Police Officer at a Home Depot in 2018 was sentenced to life in prison without parole on Friday.
According to the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office, Armando Luis Juarez shot and killed Dallas Police Officer Rogelio Santander on April 24, 2018. He also shot Dallas Police Officer Crystal Almeida and Home Depot Loss Prevention Officer Scott Painter. After a high-speed chase, Juarez shot at Dallas Police Officers Delgado and Vasquez before he was arrested.
A Dallas County Grand Jury indicted Juarez for the Capital Murder of Officer Santander as well as for all the other crimes.
On May 23, 2018, the Dallas County Criminal District Attorney’s Office made the decision to seek the death penalty, as allowed when a capital crime is committed, and the trial team began preparing for trial. Recently, the defense provided information to the Dallas County Criminal District Attorney’s Office that Juarez was diagnosed as intellectually disabled by a psychologist. The DA’s office subsequently requested a local psychologist to conduct an independent evaluation of Juarez. The psychologist also diagnosed him with intellectual disability. The Supreme Court of the United States has ruled that the State cannot execute a person who is intellectually disabled, as it violates the United States Constitution. Because of that, Juarez is legally ineligible for a death sentence.
Juarez entered a guilty plea on Friday and was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole for the death of Officer Santander. In addition, he was sentenced to the maximum punishment of life for shooting Officer Almeida, and a maximum of twenty years for shooting Scott Painter.
“Our deepest sympathies remain with all those affected by this tragedy, especially the Santander family, Officer Almeida and her family, Scott Painter and his family, Officers Delgado and his family, and Officer Vasquez and his family,” the District Attorney’s Office said in a statement.
Juarez was further sentenced to two life sentences, which were ordered to run consecutively with the other cases, for shooting at Officers Delgado and Vasquez during the high-speed chase.
Listen to Clayton Neville’s story below:
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