Hope teen now charged with capital murder, stalking in July shooting that killed Paris, Texas, man

HOPE, Ark. – A 19-year-old Hope man arrested in August on a first-degree murder warrant now faces capital murder and stalking charges in the July shooting that killed a Paris, Texas, man and wounded a girl, court records show.

Prosecuting Attorney Ben Hale filed a three-count criminal information Wednesday in Hempstead County Circuit Court charging Kevin Lozano with capital murder, first-degree stalking and first-degree battery.

Capital murder is punishable in Arkansas by death or life in prison without parole.

The capital murder count alleges that on July 17, Lozano, “with the premeditated and deliberated purpose of causing the death of another person,” caused the death of Gabriel Trujillo Garcia.

Hope police have said officers were called to a reported shooting about 10:45 p.m. July 17 at a home in the 1000 block of West Seventh Street, where they found Trujillo Garcia, 21, of Paris, Texas, and a juvenile girl with gunshot wounds. Trujillo Garcia was pronounced dead at the scene. The girl survived.

The stalking count is new. It alleges that from June 16 to July 17, Lozano knowingly engaged in a course of conduct that would place a reasonable person in the girl’s position under emotional distress and in fear for her safety or the safety of another person, and that he was armed with a deadly weapon at the time. The information identifies the girl only by her initials.

First-degree stalking is a Class B felony punishable by five to 20 years in prison.

The battery count alleges that Lozano, acting with the purpose of causing physical injury to Trujillo Garcia, caused physical injury to the girl by means of a firearm. First-degree battery is also a Class B felony.

Lozano was arrested at 1:27 p.m. Aug. 6 in the 900 block of South Elm Street on a warrant charging first-degree murder and first-degree battery, Hope police said at the time. TXKtoday reported on the arrest. The information filed Wednesday lists his address in the 900 block of South Elm Street.

The warrant was issued by the circuit court’s First Division. A circuit judge on Wednesday ordered the affidavit describing the alleged offenses sealed to protect the minor victim, so the court file does not say what led investigators to Lozano.

The court docket shows Lozano made a first appearance Wednesday. Bond information and the name of a defense attorney were not in the online case file Thursday morning.

A criminal information is a formal accusation by a prosecutor and is not evidence of guilt. Lozano is presumed innocent unless convicted in court.