Man who killed teen at birthday party and claimed he could become a 'cartel assassin' sentenced to life

WASHINGTON COUNTY, Ore. (TCN) -- A man who claimed he could become a "cartel assassin" will spend time behind bars in connection with a shooting at a birthday party that left one teenager dead.

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office announced that Derek Cuellar-Torres pleaded guilty on July 7 to second-degree murder with a firearm and attempted first-degree murder with a firearm. A judge subsequently sentenced Cuellar-Torres to life in prison with a minimum of 32.5 years.

The two victims, ages 17 and 16 at the time, attended a birthday party in Hillsboro on Oct. 21, 2023. Prosecutors said, "The brother of the teen celebrating her birthday felt the victims were being disrespectful." The brother reportedly asked his friends, including Cuellar-Torres, who were part of a local gang, "to help him confront" the victims.

The brother allegedly drove Cuellar-Torres and three other teenagers, who were carrying firearms, back to the party. The brother and another teen reportedly "lured the victims and others outside."

According to the district attorney’s office, Cuellar-Torres and another teen "hid in the shadows" before opening fire on the victims, striking them. Seventeen-year-old Jesus Copado-Oropeza died as a result, and the other victim sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Authorities recovered 22 shell casings at the scene.

Cuellar-Torres and the teenager who was with him reportedly confessed to the crime. Prosecutors said they uncovered text messages between Cuellar-Torres and his fellow gang members in which the defendant "complained that he was 'losing time' and wanted to 'catch a body' before he turned 18."

Cuellar-Torres’ gang associate allegedly told him he would get charged as an adult, but the defendant "dismissed those concerns, saying he would blame alcohol and drugs for his decisions and would avoid punishment." 

According to the district attorney’s office, Cuellar-Torres boasted about killing Copado-Oropeza in a separate chat and "claimed that he could now become a cartel assassin."

The defendant was less than a month away from turning 18 at the time of the shooting. He was originally charged as a juvenile and then transferred to adult court for prosecution following a waiver proceeding. Prosecutors noted that "the juvenile justice reforms will make the defendant eligible for parole consideration after 15 years and conditional release after serving half of his sentence."

The defendant will be booked into the Oregon Department of Corrections to serve his sentence at the Oregon Youth Authority.

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