Neithan Jadiel Montenegro

On the morning of May 4, 2025, a violent domestic dispute at a home in southeast Austin, Texas, ended the life of 15-year-old Neithan Jadiel Montenegro-Chavarria. The incident began when Victor Javier Orellana-Carranza, then 38, arrived at a residence in the 5700 block of Hammermill Run looking for his two-year-old son. Inside the home were the child’s mother, her 16-year-old son, and Neithan, a Hispanic male who was a friend of the son.

According to investigators, Orellana-Carranza entered the home and assaulted the mother of his child. Her son and Neithan intervened to stop the attack, which led to a physical altercation between the three. Orellana-Carranza then left the residence, but not before threatening that he would return. A short time later, he came back armed with a firearm.

Orellana-Carranza opened fire on the two teenagers, striking Neithan with gunfire before fleeing the scene. Austin Police Department officers responded to a 911 call at approximately 6:41 a.m. and found Neithan suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. Despite life-saving measures, he was pronounced deceased at the scene at 7:08 a.m. The death was investigated as Austin's 24th homicide of 2025.

Later that same day, the Austin Police Department’s Tactical Intelligence Unit tracked Orellana-Carranza as he attempted to flee the country. Multiple units assisted in his apprehension before he could escape. He was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. According to the Travis County District Attorney's office, Orellana-Carranza later confessed to the shooting. He was indicted for murder on July 24, 2025.

In August 2026, Orellana-Carranza, then 39, stood trial for the murder. On August 18, 2026, a Travis County jury found him guilty. He was subsequently sentenced to serve 40 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. The case was closed with his conviction and sentencing in August 2026.