A festive gathering in San Antonio, Texas, ended in tragedy in the early hours of 21 December when a dispute over noise culminated in a fatal shooting. Police confirmed that a 29-year-old man, Edward Trejo, was shot dead by his 40-year-old neighbour, Paul Flores.
A Confrontation That Turned Fatal
The incident unfolded at a residence on the 300 block of Cincinnati Avenue. Edward Trejo was attending a holiday party with friends when neighbour Paul Flores filed a noise complaint. Just after 5.15am, Flores went next door to confront the revellers directly.
A heated verbal argument broke out between Flores and Trejo, which quickly escalated into a physical fight. The altercation spilled from the house into the front yard and onto the street. During the struggle, Paul Flores pulled out a firearm and shot Edward Trejo multiple times.
Emergency Response and Charges
Officers responding to the shooting call found Trejo with gunshot wounds throughout his body. They performed life-saving measures at the scene before he was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office determined the cause of death was a gunshot wound to the neck.
Paul Flores was charged with murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon on the same day. He was booked into the Bexar Adult Detention Center, where he remained as of the following Monday. If convicted of murder, Flores could face a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole.
A Community in Mourning
Edward Trejo, affectionately nicknamed 'Fatso' by loved ones, was remembered as a well-respected and beloved member of his community. He worked at Benson Auto Group in San Antonio, where colleagues described him as dependable and supportive, often using the phrase 'I got you'. A sign with those words now sits on his empty desk.
Tributes poured in on social media. Diablos OutSports, an LGBTQ+ community sports league Trejo was part of, posted: 'A proud San Antonian, teammate and friend, Edward was known for his kindness, warmth and the way he made everyone feel valued.'
His sister, Ayanna Trejo, shared a heartfelt message on Facebook, writing: 'My heart is shattered in ways I never imagined... You were my safe place, my protector, my biggest support.'
On the Sunday following the shooting, around 200 people attended a memorial where they released blue, gray, and white balloons in his honour, a poignant farewell to a life cut short by a sudden act of violence.
