Albert Gonzalez, 29, was found guilty of capital murder by a Tarrant County jury on February 26, 2025, for the fatal shooting of a game room clerk during a robbery. He received an automatic sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The crime took place on March 4, 2021, when Gonzalez and an accomplice, Renay Juan Moreno, were dropped off at the 5D Smoke Shop and Game Room, located on Altamesa Boulevard. Once inside, Gonzalez pulled out a firearm and pointed it at 37-year-old Mahmoud Ghanim of Arlington. Ghanim raised his hands and attempted to push the gun away, but Gonzalez shot him in the torso, killing him.
Following the murder, Gonzalez and Moreno proceeded to steal money and cell phones from other patrons inside the game room. They also rifled through Ghanim's pockets, stealing cash, and took a bag of money from the game room.
"This is capital murder, make no mistake about it," Payne told the jury during his closing arguments.
After the robbery and shooting, Gonzalez and Moreno fled the scene and had their driver, Suzann Meranda Aleman, take them back to their hotel, where they divided the stolen money.
"This defendant planned the robbery, prepared to commit murder, and carried it out," Rodgers stated. "He came prepared and did exactly what he intended to do."
Both Renay Juan Moreno and Suzann Meranda Aleman face charges of capital murder in connection with the crime.
The Tarrant County District Attorney's Office commended Tarrant County District Attorney Investigator Danny Nutt, Victim Advocate Laura Medina, and the Fort Worth Police Department for their work on the case.
