Lufkin man gets life in drug-deal shooting death

NACOGDOCHES, Texas (KTRE) - A Lufkin man will serve a life sentence without the possibility of parole following a capital murder conviction on Friday. [KTRE]

A Lufkin resident has been sentenced to life imprisonment without parole after being found guilty of capital murder in connection with a fatal shooting that occurred in Nacogdoches last summer. Martin Montalvo received the conviction Friday for the death of Angel Bonilla, who was discovered shot inside a residence on West California Street on July 30, 2024. Emergency responders had received multiple calls reporting gunfire in the area that evening.

Seven individuals initially faced capital murder charges stemming from Bonilla's death, though Montalvo was the first to proceed to trial. In addition to the capital murder conviction, jurors found him guilty on three separate counts of aggravated robbery. Other suspects named in the case remain in the judicial system awaiting resolution of their charges.

Investigators identified Montalvo as a key figure after restaurant staff reported a disheveled man requesting to use the establishment's telephone. Surveillance footage captured the individual holding a box containing what appeared to be THC vaping cartridges, the same products discovered at the murder scene. Questioning Montalvo led authorities to Gerardo Ocon, who acknowledged transporting six additional suspects to the residence to purchase marijuana vaping devices—a routine visit he characterized as part of a regular pattern.

Evidence presented during the investigation suggested the group initially visited the location as buyers that evening before departing and returning with robbery as the stated objective, according to an arrest affidavit summary. Nacogdoches police officers and investigator Jonathan Bell coordinated on the case, with Assistant District Attorney Andrew Weber serving as lead prosecutor.

District Attorney Andrew Jones commended the efforts of law enforcement and prosecution team members following the verdict. "No amount of punishment can return this son and this brother to his family," Jones stated, adding that the family's composed demeanor throughout the proceedings demonstrated "remarkable grace." He emphasized the thoroughness of investigative work, noting that efforts by Bell and department personnel proved critical in presenting the case to the jury.