A San Antonio man has been sentenced to 30 years behind bars Tuesday as a part of a plea deal over the fatal shooting of Marqhael Ross, a 15-year-old boy, an incident dating back to January 2021. Zacary Vargas, 22, agreed to plea no contest to charges of murder and aggravated kidnapping, with both sentences to run concurrently, according to KSAT.
Vargas initially encountered Ross in the front yard of his residence, leading to a physical confrontation that would ultimately end in Ross's death. Details emerged in the wake of the struggle, with Vargas having been charged in a total of five separate cases. He is reportedly eligible to quickly apply for parole after serving just 15 years of his sentence.
The altercation on that ill-fated day in 2021 was reportedly captured on a Ring doorbell camera, revealing a struggle over a handgun which discharged during the scuffle. The evident escalation led to Vargas regaining control of the weapon and fatally shooting the teen as he tried to flee. The victim succumbed to his injuries at University Hospital. Fox San Antonio reported the recorded footage as key evidence in the investigation.
Before his arrest for the murder, Vargas faced legal troubles with another case tagged as aggravated kidnapping. While incarcerated, an additional charge for possession of a prohibited substance was levied against him. According to Tuesday's sentencing, the state has agreed to dismiss the remaining charges as part of the plea deal.
