Houston Man Sentenced to 55 Years in Prison for Murder Outside Gulf Freeway Club

A 28-year-old man has been sentenced to 55 years in prison and a $10,000 fine for the murder of 29-year-old Erik Villeda in the parking lot of a club in south Houston in 2022. Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg expressed gratitude towards the jury for recognizing the severity of the crime. Ogg stated, “We are thankful to the jury who recognized that this defendant went to extraordinary lengths to find and then gun down an unarmed man in broad daylight. Justice mandates that this killer spend decades behind bars for taking the life of a young father and husband who should have lived to see his kids grow up.”

Luis Alejandro Valencia was convicted of murder and sentenced by a jury for fatally shooting Villeda on Feb. 12, 2022. The court proceedings revealed that Valencia was aware of marital issues between Villeda and his wife, which prompted him to track down and kill Villeda the following day at the club in the 8500 block of the Gulf Freeway.

Witnesses recounted the tragic event where Valencia, still in his car, confronted Villeda outside the bar, leading to a confrontation that ended in gunfire. Valencia, wearing a cowboy hat and a face mask, pulled out a 9mm semi-automatic pistol and shot Villeda multiple times in the back, resulting in his death. Valencia fled the scene but left behind his cowboy hat, which later served as evidence linking him to the crime.

In a statement, Assistant District Attorney Andrew Figliuzzi emphasized the gravity of the murder, stating, “This murder was particularly heinous because he initiated the confrontation and then shot an unarmed man in the back multiple times. Our community is sick of gun violence, and this verdict, 55 years in prison and a $10,000 fine, shows that.”

Valencia's criminal activities did not end with the murder as he was later apprehended at Bush Intercontinental Airport with weapons and ammunition while attempting to go through security. Additionally, during his time in the Harris County Jail, Valencia faced charges of attempted escape for trying to dig his way out.

The sentencing of Luis Alejandro Valencia to 55 years in prison serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of senseless violence and the impact it has on families and communities.