Abel Acosta

Abel Acosta was 14 years old at the time of the shooting on 26 December 2021 in Garland, Texas. Limited public information is available regarding his early life. According to investigators, he was a juvenile at the time of the offense and therefore legally ineligible for the death penalty under United States Supreme Court precedent.

Authorities stated that the motive for the shooting remains disputed. However, it was reported that Acosta may have had a prior conflict with one of the victims, Ivan Noyola. Following the attack, Acosta fled and has not been apprehended. Law enforcement agencies believe he escaped the United States and may be in Mexico.

As of the most recent information provided, Abel Acosta remains wanted by federal authorities in connection with the shooting.

The mass shooting occurred on 26 December 2021 at approximately 8:50 p.m. CST at a Texaco convenience store in Garland, Texas. A white pickup truck carrying two occupants arrived at the location and stopped outside the store. Abel Acosta exited the passenger side of the vehicle and positioned himself along the exterior wall of the building.

Moments later, Acosta approached the store entrance, ducked beneath a window, opened the door, and reached inside before opening fire. Using a .40‑caliber pistol equipped with an extended magazine, he discharged approximately 20 rounds into the store.

The first victim shot was Xavier Gonzalez, who sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was critically injured. Acosta then entered the store and fired additional shots at Gonzalez while standing over him, striking him multiple times in the shoulder and back. Acosta next shot Ivan Noyola and Rafael Garcia, who had already been wounded during the initial gunfire. As both attempted to flee, they were shot in the back and fatally wounded. Acosta then fired at David Rodriguez, a teenage employee of the store, striking him in the chest and causing serious injury.

Gonzalez was shot a total of ten times. Noyola was shot four times, and Garcia was shot twice, including a fatal wound to the heart. After the attack, Acosta ran back to the waiting vehicle, which immediately fled the scene.

The three individuals who died in the shooting were teenagers between the ages of 14 and 17. One surviving victim was seriously injured. Law enforcement later identified the driver of the vehicle as Acosta’s father, Richard Acosta Jr.

Richard Acosta Jr. turned himself in to authorities the day after the shooting and was arrested for facilitating the crime and serving as the getaway driver. In February 2022, he was indicted on a capital murder charge in Dallas County. In February 2023, he was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

As of the latest information available, Abel Acosta has not been arrested and remains a fugitive.