A 29-year-old man from Houston has been sentenced to over 70 years in prison for the 2018 murder of his 16-year-old girlfriend. Irbin Vargas was convicted for the fatal shooting of Lourdes Sandoval, a teenager he had been in a year-long relationship with.
The tragic incident occurred on September 12, 2018, when Sandoval decided to end her relationship with Vargas, who had previously threatened her life and pointed a gun at her. According to her family and friends, Sandoval had been trying to break free from Vargas’s abusive behavior.
That night, after telling him via text that she no longer wanted to be involved with him, she left her home in the Greenspoint area to meet a friend waiting in a car.
Her friend witnessed the heartbreaking moment when Vargas, hiding in the shadows, ambushed Sandoval as she walked outside. He shot her in the head, killing her instantly. Vargas fled the scene but was later apprehended by Houston police.
Vargas was found guilty of murder after a five-day trial in November. He chose to have the judge determine his sentence, which resulted in a 75-year prison term. Assistant District Attorney Philip White, who prosecuted the case, described Vargas as a predator who preyed on a young girl. “Five minutes after she told him that it was over for good, he killed her,” White said.
Vargas must serve a minimum of 30 years before he becomes eligible for parole. Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg expressed her condolences to Sandoval’s family, emphasizing the tragedy of a young life lost to domestic violence.