Third Suspect On Trial In Brisenia Flores Case

Two of the people who killed nine year-old Brisenia Flores in her home have been tried, convicted and sentenced. Shawna Forde was sentenced to death plus 65 years and Jason Bush was also sentenced to death. A third suspect, Albert Gaxiola, is now on trial in Arizona, accused of first-degree murder for helping Forde and Bush in their home raid because he felt her father, Raúl Flores, was a threat to his drug business.

Strangely, it turns out that Gaxiola is an old family friend or distantly related to Brisenia’s mother, Gina Gonzalez, who was shot but survived the assault. Gaxiola’s defense contends he was not involved and nowhere near the scene of the crime when Brisenia and her father were killed.

The Arizona Daily Star reported:

And while it’s true Gaxiola’s DNA was found on an AK-47 left inside the Flores home the morning of the slayings, that can be explained, Lansdale said…

Johnson told jurors they will learn that at 1:32 a.m., Gaxiola sent Forde a text message saying, “Cops on scene. Lay low,” and Forde responded: “No worries. Just relax. Competition gone.”

Here’s a video report from KGUN9, which said the trial may go on for a few weeks.

Follow Sara Inés Calderón on Twitter @SaraChicaD