Benitez-Gomez Testifies Shooting Was in Self-Defense
Rey David Benitez-Gomez testified in a Waco court that he shot his ex-girlfriend's new boyfriend, Daniel Villatoro, in self-defense, claiming Villatoro approached his car with a gun. This testimony contradicts Villatoro and the ex-girlfriend, who stated Villatoro was unarmed during…
Waco Temple Bryan, TX, October 21, 2026 —
Rey David Benitez-Gomez testified in a Waco court that he shot Daniel Villatoro in self-defense, saying Villatoro approached his car with a gun. Villatoro was the new boyfriend of Benitez-Gomez’s ex-girlfriend.
Benitez-Gomez’s account conflicts with statements from Villatoro and the ex-girlfriend, who said Villatoro was unarmed during the December 2023 incident. The accounts presented in the summary therefore differ on whether Villatoro had a weapon when he approached the car.
The available information does not identify the specific court, the date of Benitez-Gomez’s testimony, or the charges involved. It also does not provide further details about the encounter, including where it occurred, what happened immediately before or after the shooting, or whether other witnesses testified.
No verdict or other outcome in the case was provided. The testimony describes Benitez-Gomez’s claim about the shooting; the conflicting statements from Villatoro and the ex-girlfriend describe their account of whether Villatoro was armed. The available information does not establish how the court assessed those accounts.
Because the accounts differ on a central detail, the information provided leaves the circumstances of the shooting contested. Further procedural details, including the case’s status and any court findings, were not included.
Story summarized from the original created by Tommy Witherspoon on www.kwtx.com, see more information here.
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