Murder victim’s relatives seek life sentence for Franco Summers

SAN ANTONIO- Franco Summers, 34, was arrested Sunday for allegedly killing Christopher Fuentes during a fight outside a restaurant on Blanco Road north of downtown.

Court records show Summers has a criminal history, including a 2013 arrest for the murder of 17-year-old Roger Rodriguez JR.

However, this charge was dismissed due to “further investigation”.

Fuentes’ family, still grieving the loss, expressed disappointment and heartbreak following the incident.

“This is devastating and incredible,” Fuentes’ cousin Veronica Cortinas said. His son added: “I felt more anger about this situation than anything else.”

Relatives described Fuentes, 33, as a quiet man with a deep love for his family.

“He would light up that room for all of us,” his cousin said.

The family said they were especially wary of Summers after he began a relationship with Fuentes’ daughter, Virginia.

Fuentes’ son even tried to intervene, saying, “I made my own efforts to take my sister away from him… Franco threatened me with my life so that my sister would not leave him.”

Following Summers’ arrest, Roger Rodriguez Jr.’s mother, Monica Penalver, contacted the family.

“On Saturday, someone sent me a screenshot of, I think her Aunt Linda, posting a picture of Franco. They were like, ‘Oh my God, Monica, is that the same Franco who killed your son? And I thought, ‘I saw that. I told my daughter that “I sent the picture and 12 years later it was like deja vu again, same story.”

Fuentes’ cousin responded, “If he had never been released from prison, he would never have committed murder again.”

The Bexar County District Attorney’s Office declined to comment on why the charges were dismissed in 2013 due to the age of the case.

While the investigation into Fuentes’ death continues, both families are determined to make sure Summers stays off the streets.

“He should be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole,” Cortinas said. “There is no need for others to kill family members here.”

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