HOUSTON – Bryan J. Fernandez Hernandez killed his mother, sister and her husband -- shooting them all at close range -- prosecutors say, before making a phony call from his northwest Houston apartment to report it as a “home invasion.”
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Hernandez, 27, showed up in court Monday, where prosecutors with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office hoped to prove he knew exactly what he was doing when he killed his relatives.
“So actually, what happened was we have three separate victims in this case, each of them was shot at close range in the head, indicating that we believe that it wasn’t an intruder; it was a family member that was killed in pretty close conditions,” Philip White, Homicide Division Chief for the DA’s office, told KPRC 2 Photojournalist Jeovany Luna. “So we highlight the fact that this came in as an intruder call, when in fact, we do not believe they were intruders. We believe they lived there, and that this defendant killed them and then made that call that they were intruders.”
White also pointed out police were called to the apartment four days before the deadly shooting, where Fernandez may have tried to “evict” the three relatives. However, it’s unclear if the lease was under his name.
“The statement we have in the bodycam is something simply that he was trying to get them out of the apartment - didn’t want them there anymore,” he explained. “I’m not sure how long they have been there, how long they’ve been staying with him, or if that was their residence to begin with. Either way, it does show the fact that they were living at that time with him for at least those four days, if not much, much longer.”
Fernandez’s attorney, Julio Vela, was also present but could not discuss much on the case but noted his client is still presumed innocent until the trial is concluded and wants to ensure it remains that way until the judge makes her final decision.
At last check, the court did rule the case had enough probable cause to go to trial. Another court date is expected in approximately 30 days.