Published: June 15, 2009 10:42 am      

Espino gets 50 years for Camacho murder

Jesus “Chuy” Camacho was murdered because he was suspected of being a member of the Nortenos street gang according to his killer, Raymundo Delgado Espino, a Mexican national who pleaded guilty to the murder in a Cooke County courtroom Friday.

District Judge Janelle Haverkamp sentenced Espino to 50 years in prison for fatally shooting Camacho as he drove his pickup on East California Street the night of June 11, 2006.

During questioning by District Attorney Janice Warder, Espino testified that Camacho was shot after he and a group of friends, many of whom are members of a gang called Satan’s Disciples, noticed the 21 year old father as they drove by the McDonald’s restaurant on East California Street.

Espino and his companions had reportedly attended a party at a residence on North Taylor Street and were on the way to drop off a friend’s daughter when they spotted Camacho.

The group reportedly thought Camacho was a member of Nortenos because he was wearing a red t-shirt — a color associated with the gang.

Espino said a passenger in the car said, “That’s Chuy. That’s a Norteno.”

Espino then told Warder that the group followed Camacho’s white Ford pickup truck to a spot near Pecan Creek where Espino — a professed member of the Satan’s Disciples gang — said he shot Camacho.

Warder got Espino to admit Camacho was a stranger to him.

“You really didn’t know Mr. Camacho at all?” Warder asked.

Espino admitted he did not.

After the shooting, Camacho’s pickup truck veered off California Street and plunged into Pecan Creek where Camacho was later pronounced dead.

Authorities quickly identified Espino as the suspect and said they believed he fled to Mexico.

For over two years, Espino was a fugitive.

Then in August 2008, Gainesville Police Investigator Cpt. Jim Bleything announced Espino was in custody in Mexico.

Bleything said he has no way of knowing Espino’s state of mind at the time of his arrest, but that as he understands it, Espino simply walked into a state police facility in the state of Senora, Mexico and turned himself in.

Espino appeared somber during Friday’s plea agreement hearing.

Wearing handcuffs and shackles, a black and white striped jumpsuit, white socks and orange plastic sandals, Espino seemed nervous at times.

Camacho’s parents, Maria Camacho and Carlos Camacho-Abrerro were among at least 20 friends and relatives of Camacho who were on hand for the hearing.

The Camachos held hands as Espino answered questions about the night Camacho was murdered.

Asked if he had anything to say to Camacho’s family, Espino said, “I just want to say I’m sorry...I hope they forgive me one day.”

The victim’s family also had a chance to speak.

Espino nodded his head several times as Camacho’s parents directed tearful comments at him in Spanish.

His troubles will not be over when he is released from prison.

Espino’s attorney Chris Fostel noted that Espino faces possible deportation to Mexico and the refusal of his application for U.S. citizenship at the conclusion of his sentence.

He still professes his loyalty to Satan’s Disciples.