By: Jessica Rush w/PlanoStar
A Collin County jury convicted and sentenced a Plano man to two life sentences in prison and another 20-year sentence for shooting his pregnant wife and two other individuals on April 25, 2009.
Carlos Delarosa, 37, received the life sentences and a $10,000 fine for two counts of aggravated assault – first-degree felonies, because they were against family members. A third aggravated assault charge was prosecuted as a third-degree felony and resulted in another $10,000 fine and a 20-year sentence with the Texas Department of Corrections.
Delarosa was also charged with possession with intent to deliver with more than 400 grams of cocaine – another 60-year sentence and $100,000 fine. The jury gave him two years and a $10,000 fine for an evading-arrest charge. 416th District Court Judge Chris Oldner heard the case.
According to a release from the District Attorney’s office, the incidents happened in Plano, where Delarosa was living with his 7-months pregnant wife, Serena, and six children. After a night out at a comedy club and drinking with Serena’s brother, Robert Enriquez, and his girlfriend, Stacy Guardado, the two couples returned to the house to sleep.
A dispute began between Delarosa and Serena regarding one of the 13 children in the house who wanted to have a friend spend the night, and Serena locked her husband out of the house. The release says Delarosa got back into the house, loaded a handgun and shot Serena in the head. He then moved on to a separate bedroom where Enriquez and Guardado were sleeping with their 1-year-old daughter.
Delarosa shot Guardado in her face and Enriquez in his thigh, before threatening to shoot the baby. The shooter’s oldest son walked into the area but fled after Delarosa pointed the gun at him. Several individuals inside the home called 911.
All of the victims survived the shooting. Serena’s baby also lived and was delivered by emergency C-section at 30 weeks.
Shortly after the shootings, Plano police responded to a call from a young child, found Delarosa and a high-speed chase developed. At Parker Road and Thunderbird, he ran off the roadway and crashed and rolled his vehicle. Delarosa was ejected from the SUV and it rolled on top of him and immediately burst into flames.
“These officers had to push this vehicle up on one end to pull him out,” Plano police spokesperson Rick McDonald said. “Even knowing this individual was a suspect in a shooting and also still armed, they still went the extra mile to get into that burning vehicle, removed him and saved his life.”
McDonald said the officers at the scene of the crash received awards for their heroic efforts, but their policy is to always try and protect residents.
At the scene of the crash, officers found the weapon used in the assaults. The release says the firearm was jammed. When police obtained a warrant to search his home, they discovered a kilogram of cocaine inside a toolbox in the garage.
Gail Leyko and Kelley Sullivan prosecuted the cases with the help of investigator Kenneth Moore.
“I couldn’t be prouder of Gail, Kelley and Kenneth,” Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis said in the release. “They put their heart and soul into working these cases, and the jury sent a strong message that Delarosa’s violent conduct won’t be tolerated in Collin County.”
Willis also commended the Plano Police Department for “an excellent job on this case.”
The main officers involved in the case were Detective Brian Pfaning, Detective Larry Bartek, Detective Carlos Harwell, Officer Bradley Hutton, Officer Kenneth Foale, Officer Jason Moses, Officer Chris Sanders, Officer Matt Quillin, Officer Brian Kailbourne and Sgt. Wade Daniel.
“This is more or less the closure of this case … and justice is falling into place,” McDonald said.
