A North Texas man has been sentenced to 45 years in prison for his role in the drug-related robbery and slaying of a childhood friend.
Prosecutors said Eduardo Bustos was fatally shot and his girlfriend was wounded in the 2011 attack at his Fort Worth apartment in the 6200 block of Finbro Drive.
Twenty-four-year-old Michael Daniel Cucuta of Fort Worth was sentenced Thursday after being convicted of murder, attempted capital murder, aggravated robbery and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Prosecutors presented evidence that Cucuta got a gun the day before the murder and was the only one who knew where Bustos lived.
Prosecutors said the gunman was another childhood friend. Jose Luis Acosta was convicted of murder and attempted capital murder and sentenced to 99 years in prison. Acosta and Cucuta went to Bustos' apartment to commit a robbery.
Authorities said Cucuta and Acosta were partners in drug deals with the victim and thought he somehow wronged them.
Police said Bustos allowed both men into his apartment in the morning and Acosta pulled a gun on him. When he turned the gun to Bustos' girlfriend, he tried to tackle Acosta. Bustos was then shot three times.
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Bustos' girlfriend tried to escape, but was shot in the hip once, according to the Department. Acosta attempted to shoot her a second time, but the gun did not fire.
Officials said Acosta and Cucuta fled from the apartment and Bustos had his neighbors call 911. He was transported to an area hospital and was later pronounced dead. His girlfriend was also transported to an area hospital where she was treated for a gunshot wound and survived.
According to the Fort Worth Police Department, Cucuta was sentenced by state district Judge Louis Sturns to 45 years on the murder charge, 35 years on the attempted capital murder charge, 35 years on each of the aggravated robbery charges and 20 years on the aggravated assault charge. His sentences will run concurrently and he will not be eligible for parole until half of his 45 year sentence has been served.
