District Attorney Greg Willis’s Office has successfully secured a life sentence for Joel Jesus Torres, a 24-year-old McKinney resident, who was found guilty of fatally shooting his fiancée, Shailene Velez.
The incident dates back to November 14, 2021, when McKinney officers responded to a "shots fired" call on Kingsway Lane. Torres, the caller, claimed he accidentally shot Velez while attempting to clear his semi-automatic handgun. He stated he was clearing the weapon of a jammed bullet with the magazine out when the gun discharged, hitting Velez from a distance of approximately 4 to 5 feet.
During the trial, Torres maintained his story of an accidental shooting, but inconsistencies arose. Surveillance footage captured a dispute between Torres and Velez before the shooting. Moreover, forensic evidence contradicted Torres's version of events, with the medical examiner testifying that Velez was shot from approximately 9 inches away.
A jury found Torres guilty of murder.
During the punishment phase, prosecutors presented evidence of Torres’s criminal history, including two Collin County charges of felony delivery of a controlled substance, as well as text messages, photos, and videos Detective Nolan Palmer recovered on Torres’s cell phone showing both the sale and possession of multiple felony controlled substances and possession of firearms.
Torres’s phone also revealed messages detailing the troubled and violent nature of his relationship with the deceased victim. Additionally, DA Investigator Sarah Putman testified to her personal knowledge of Torres as a former Student Resource Officer at Frisco High School. Investigator Putman testified regarding Torres documented history of anger and violence towards classmates, teachers, and the SROs, which resulted in alternative discipline programs and in school suspensions. Lastly, the jury heard about numerous disciplinary infractions Torres has had during his time in custody at the Collin County jail while awaiting trial.
After deliberation, the jury sentenced Torres to life in prison.
"No matter how many lies or twists Torres told, the evidence told the true story and the jury saw him for who he really was. He murdered someone he was supposed to love and one day marry. May he spend every day of the rest of his life in prison thinking about that," stated Willis after sentencing.
Assistant Criminal District Attorneys Cresta Garland and Alex Oestriech led the prosecution, supported by District Attorney Investigator Robin Laughon and Victim Assistance Coordinators Melissa White and Jill Moore.
