Teen charged with murder learns trial date

SAN ANTONIO — A 16-year-old facing two separate murder charges learned Thursday when his trial will begin.

Rene Gonzales was just 14 years old when he was accused of involvement in a fatal drive-by shooting.

On Thursday, 16-year-old Rene Gonzales, wearing red solitary confinement uniform, was brought before 437th Criminal District Court Judge Joel Perez in handcuffs and leg and waist shackles.

Gonzales is accused of participating in a drive-by shooting in October 2022 that mistakenly targeted the wrong house.

Novita Brazil, 25, who was studying at her home on Bald Mountain Drive in West Bexar County, was killed.

While Gonzales was in custody for this case, he turned off his GPS monitor in the summer of 2023.

Just before his re-arrest, he was accused of fatally shooting a 54-year-old man who was trying to break up a fight between teenagers.

In this case, Gonzales was officially recognized as an adult in November 2024 and is now awaiting arraignment.

In court Thursday, the state updated the judge on his status in the 2022 murder case.

“It appears that this case cannot be resolved through a plea deal. We need a trial date,” said prosecutor Neal Cordero.

The date agreed was July 21, 2025. This was to ensure that charges would be filed in the second case, but also to allow the state to bring this second case to trial.

“It is our intention to place this murder on the sentence of the murder charged.”

Gonzales now faces two life sentences if found guilty on both counts.