DALLAS, TX - A man who executed a mechanic over a $500 repair bill will spend the next 40 years in prison, The New York Post reports.
Raudel Orozco, 25, learned his fate last week in the fatal 2022 shooting of Luis Manuel Casillas, who was shot in the head execution-style two days before Christmas, WFAA reported. After learning of his fate, Orozco issued a chilling warning to the victim’s family, warning them he would “be out someday.”
Orozco pleaded guilty to felony murder, while his brother Rolando, also charged with murder, is scheduled for a May 26 pretrial conference.
On Dec. 23, 2022, Orozco ambushed and fatally shot Casillas after they got into an argument over a $500 repair bill for his truck, law enforcement authorities said. As the confrontation continued to escalate, Casillas told Orozco and the others to just take the truck and leave.
Casillas attempted to flee the scene as Orozco and five others chased him through nearby businesses before forcing him to his knees and shooting him point-blank, witnesses told police.
“My brother started running,” Casillas’ sister Sandy told ABC 13 in 2022.
“He ran through all the side businesses he could run through. They did catch up to him and they shot him in the head. Point blank. They put him on his knees, and they shot him in the head,” she continued. She said her brother begged for his life, telling the men, “I have family; just take whatever you want.”
“He was a father, a son, a brother, an uncle,” Sandy said. “He didn’t deserve this. He begged them, ‘I have a family, just take whatever you want.’ And they said ‘no.’”
Casillas succumbed to his wounds later that day at a local hospital, leaving behind a wife and two daughters aged two and three.
According to family members, Casillas intended to use the $500 he was owed to finish purchasing Christmas presents for his children.
“Santa was coming with Daddy, but Santa showed up, but Daddy didn’t,” Sandy said after her brother’s murder.
Orozco’s attorney argued at trial that he believed his truck had been stolen and claimed the shooting was accidental, while also claiming Orozco had expressed remorse. That was clear after Orozco threatened Casillas’ family at sentencing.
A third suspect, Jody Duron, had murder charges dismissed in September 2024, with prosecutors determining there wasn’t enough evidence against him to move forward.
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