Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said this week that a Houston man who shot and killed a 16-year-old girl outside her home in 2018 has been sentenced to 75 years in prison.
On September 12, 2018, 29-year-old Irbin Vargas was found guilty of murder in connection with the death of Lourdes Betty Sandoval. Sandoval and Vargas, who was 22 at the time, had been dating for around a year. Due to threats against her life, including one in which Vargas aimed a gun at her head, she had told friends and family that she wanted to break up with him.
Sandoval texted Vargas the night of the murder to let him know she no longer wanted to be associated with him. She left her house in the Greenspoint neighborhood five minutes later to meet a friend. Vargas ambushed Sandoval and shot her in the head after her friend saw him emerge from the shadows.
The Houston Police Department detained Vargas after he ran from the scene. After a five-day trial, he was found guilty of murder in November. A judge decided to punish Vargas, and he was given a 75-year prison term.
The case’s prosecutor, Assistant District Attorney Philip White, characterized Vargas as a predator who preyed on the adolescent girl. Vargas will be eligible for release following a minimum of 30 years in incarceration.
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!