Trevor McEuen, 30, was found guilty of capital murder on Thursday for the fatal shooting of his neighbor, Aaron Martinez, in May 2023. After more than four hours of deliberation, a Kaufman County jury delivered a unanimous verdict, convicting McEuen of the crime.
The trial, which included emotional testimony from witnesses and family members, concluded with McEuen immediately handcuffed after the verdict was read aloud by Judge Shelton Gibbs IV. McEuen, who claimed the shooting was an act of self-defense, had fatally shot Martinez following a crash near the victim’s rural Kaufman County property.
According to McEuen, he acted out of fear for his safety. His defense attorney, Abigail Spain, argued that McEuen shot Martinez because he believed deadly force was necessary to protect himself. “He was justified. He was scared,” Spain said during closing arguments. “He used deadly force because he thought it was going to be used against him.”
However, prosecutors painted a different picture. Erie County District Attorney Mark Moffitt argued that McEuen’s actions were intentional and driven by malice, not fear. “Was he murdered? 100%,” Moffitt said, adding, “Can’t argue it wasn’t intentional.” The jury was shown pictures of Martinez’s 32 gunshot wounds, including a fatal shot to the forehead, reported by Dallas-based Fox affiliate KDFW.
Martinez’s family, who were present in the courtroom, expressed their grief. “The devastation done to Aaron Martinez, this was not self-defense because he was scared,” prosecutor Robyn Beckham said. “That was hatred.” Martinez’s father, Salvador, said after the sentencing, “Right now, the main thing is this guy, he stays forever [behind bars], that he makes no more damage to anybody.”
The case took an unexpected turn when McEuen fled before his scheduled trial in May 2025, removing his ankle monitor. He was found nearly a month later hiding in a hole at his grandparents’ house. McEuen’s sentencing included a mandatory life sentence in state prison without the possibility of parole, as prosecutors chose not to seek the death penalty.
The capital murder conviction in Texas carries a sentence of either life in prison or death. Witnesses, including McEuen’s ex-girlfriend, testified about his violent tendencies. She described McEuen as abusive and paranoid, revealing incidents where he pointed a gun at her and fired shots near her. “It was terrifying being in a vehicle with him. He had road rage,” she said. McEuen’s defense team has indicated plans to appeal the verdict.