Juan Angel Simental Jr

Juan Angel Simental Jr. was a 17-year-old Hispanic student from Muleshoe, Texas, who attended Muleshoe High School. His life was cut short in March 2023, just months before he was expected to graduate.

On the evening of March 23, 2023, at approximately 6:13 p.m., Amarillo police officers responded to a call about a shooting in the 4000 block of Neuches. At the scene, they discovered Juan, who had been both robbed and shot. He was immediately transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. Despite medical efforts, Juan succumbed to his injuries four days later, on March 27.

The investigation quickly led to the identification and arrest of two suspects: 17-year-old Lamar Tirson and a 14-year-old male whose identity was withheld due to his age. Both were initially charged with aggravated robbery. Tirson was booked into the Potter County Detention Center, while the younger suspect was taken to the Youth Center of the High Plains.

Following Juan's death, the charges against both Tirson and the juvenile were elevated to murder. About four months after his arrest, Tirson was released from jail after posting a $250,000 bond. A trial for the murder charge was scheduled for February 2026.

In November 2025, while out on bond, Tirson was arrested again in connection with a new incident. According to court documents, on November 1, he threatened six people with a firearm and fired the weapon at an occupied house. A grand jury indicted him on new felony charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and deadly conduct. After a hearing, a judge revoked Tirson’s bond on the original murder charge. As of December 2025, he was back in custody awaiting his trial.