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Crime scene, narcotics investigators, convicted felon testify in Day 2 of trial for suspect accused of shooting at Smith County deputy in 2016

Quiroga's defense attorney started the day cross-examining the crime scene investigator.
Credit: Sarah A. Miller/Tyler Morning Telegraph
Juan Quiroga in the courtroom during Tuesday's trial

TYLER, Texas — A Smith County jury heard testimony Wednesday from a crime scene investigator, a narcotics detective and a convicted felon in the second day of a trial for a now 20-year-old Tyler man accused of shooting at sheriff's office deputy from a fleeing vehicle.

Juan Quiroga is standing trial on a first-degree felony charge of aggravated assault against a public servant with a deadly weapon for his alleged role in the March 21, 2016, incident. 

Deputies attempted to stop the car off of Highway 64 West in western Smith County, but when the deputy turned on the vehicle's lights, the driver drove away, and the chase began. Quiroga is accused of firing at two sheriff's vehicles during the pursuit. 

Quiroga's defense attorney started the day by cross-examining the crime scene investigator.

The detective spent almost two hours on the witness stand answering questions from the state and defense about bullet trajectory, testing of bullets, measuring bullet holes and the collection of fingerprints from the vehicle that fled officers.   

The detective testified during cross-examination that Quiroga's fingerprints were not found on the Nissan Altima that fled the deputies.  

He went on to tell the jury that the lack of prints doesn't mean those people weren't in the car.  

The detective said the bullet that disabled the deputies patrol vehicle went into the vehicle at a 90-degree angle. He also said he used rods to trace the path of the bullet which he believes was made by a 7.62 mm round. 

The detective said a big metal support rod stopped the bullets from going into the driver's area of the vehicle. He said the bullet made a dent in the metal rod and if the rod had not been there the bullet would have gone into the driver's part of the vehicle near the knee area of where a driver would sit.

The state called as a witness a narcotics detective who conducted surveillance at a hotel on a known drug dealer, Ricardo Pineda, 38, prior to him going to the RV park.

Pineda was found guilty last year and sentenced to life in prison and fined $10,000 for his role in the shooting. 

In addition to conducting surveillance on Pineda, the detective has interviewed Jeremy Robinson, 34, of Hutchins, the owner of the Nissan Altima that Quiroga is accused of being in during the shooting.  

The detective said the car was found the day after the shooting without license plates at the Residence Inn in Tyler where Pineda rented some hotel rooms. 

Quiroga's defense attorney grilled the detective about the Robinson interview and how investigators determined Quiroga's involvement. 

The state called Bradley Roberts, 38, of Dublin, who was at the RV park with Pineda and Robinson the night of the shooting.

Roberts, a convicted felon, said he came to Tyler to pay Pineda $2,000 for meth.

He said Quiroga was at the RV park the night of the shooting and got in the car with Pineda and Robinson after they smoked meth and loaded guns.  

Quiroga's defense attorney insisted Roberts was only testifying because he's looking to get leniency and that he didn't even know who Quiroga was other than he told police he saw a young Mexican kid at the RV park the night of the shooting.  

Roberts is awaiting trial for a drug and weapon charge in Smith County after he was found in possession of meth and a weapon the night Quiroga is accused of shooting at the deputy.  

Pineda was the target of a monthslong, multiagency drug investigation when the shooting occurred. Authorities had Pineda under surveillance the night of the shooting for dealing methamphetamine at an RV park in Smith County. 

Deputies pursued the vehicle driving more than 100 mph. During the pursuit, Pineda and Quiroga were accused of firing at two sheriff's vehicles. Bullets struck the lead vehicle multiple times, leaving it disabled. The deputy and his K-9 partner were unharmed.

Robinson was arrested the day after the shooting at a local hotel, where a reserve deputy constable who worked at the hotel recognized his car. Robinson is awaiting trial for his alleged role in the incident.

Quiroga's trial is scheduled to last until Jan. 22, according to Smith County judicial records. 

Testimony will continue Thursday when court reconvenes at 8:30 a.m.

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