Bio

Jimmie Urbano Lucero was born on September 25, 1957, in Potter County, Texas. Texas prison records list his prior occupations as heavy equipment operator and laborer. He had a 10th-grade education and no prior prison record listed by TDCJ.

By 2003, Lucero lived next door to the Robledo family in Amarillo, Texas. The relationship between Lucero and members of the Robledo household had become tense before the shootings. Neighbors described arguments between Lucero and Fabiana Robledo, and testimony later showed that Lucero had also argued with Fabiana’s father, Pedro Robledo.

Several months before the murders, Lucero reportedly pointed a gun at Pedro Robledo after the two men had words over the fence. Other testimony during the punishment phase described Lucero as jealous, controlling, and violent in a past relationship.

The killings happened after this ongoing neighborhood conflict. The prosecution described the attack as deliberate and violent, while the surviving family members gave testimony about the shootings and the long-term effect on Fabiana’s young son, who witnessed part of the attack.

Murder Story

The murders happened on September 6, 2003, at the Robledo family home in Amarillo, Potter County, Texas. Prosecutors said Lucero first fired at Socorro Robledo, who narrowly escaped in his truck. Lucero then shot Pedro Robledo as Pedro arrived at the home. After shooting Pedro, Lucero entered the Robledo house. Inside, he shot Maria Manuela Robledo while she was on the couch. He then broke into a bedroom and shot Fabiana Robledo, killing her. Fabiana’s sister, Guadalupe Robledo, was also shot and seriously wounded but survived.

Fabiana’s young son was inside the home and witnessed the violence. During the punishment phase, Guadalupe testified that the child became fearful and upset when he heard police or ambulance sirens after the murders. Lucero was charged with capital murder. In May 2005, a Potter County jury convicted him for the shotgun killings of the three Robledo family members. The punishment phase then focused on whether he should receive life imprisonment or the death penalty.

During jury deliberations, the jury foreman read aloud from Romans 13:1–6 from his personal Bible. Lucero’s attorneys later argued that the Bible reading improperly influenced the jury. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals rejected that claim in 2008, and the United States Supreme Court declined to review the case. In 2010, Lucero’s death sentence was overturned because the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals found that his trial lawyers had not effectively represented him during the punishment phase. His conviction remained in place, but he was entitled to a new punishment hearing.

On October 5, 2010, Lucero was resentenced to life imprisonment. Prosecutors said the Robledo family did not want to go through another trial process, and they accepted the life sentence.