A judge in Longview has set a trial for the week of March 29, 2027, for Brent DeLuca, 34. He is charged with capital murder in connection with a 2024 shooting at a Taco Bell on Judson Road. Hearing was his first court appearance in two years, according to the report.
Police said the shooting happened around 1 a.m. on June 26, 2024, after the restaurant lost power and employees went out to the parking lot. Investigators said DeLuca approached the workers and tried to rob them, then fatally shot one person. The victim was a 60-year-old mother of three. Police said DeLuca then allegedly stole a car and fled.
Gregg County prosecutors are not seeking the death penalty. At the hearing, the judge said that if DeLuca is found guilty at trial, the sentence would be life without parole.