Bryan Sanchez

Bryan Sanchez, a 15-year-old Hispanic male from Odessa, Texas, was described by those who knew him as laid back, easygoing, and full of love and loyalty. He attended Odessa High School and worked as a kennel technician at the Odessa Humane Society.

On the evening of January 6, 2023, Bryan was the passenger in a Ford Escape driven by a 17-year-old friend. Around 8:45 p.m., they arrived at a home in the 10000 block of Cielo Alto to meet with some individuals. While Bryan remained in the car, two armed teenagers, later identified as 17-year-olds Omar Matthew Gutierrez and Thomas Terrazas, approached the vehicle. Gutierrez allegedly pointed a pistol at the driver and demanded his belongings. The driver started to hand over his watch but then accelerated to flee the scene. As they drove away, Gutierrez fired multiple shots into the car, striking Bryan three times.

The driver sped to a fast-food restaurant on West County Road, where he sought help. Around 9:15 p.m., deputies from the Ector County Sheriff’s Office responded and found Bryan with multiple gunshot wounds to his torso. He was transported to Medical Center Hospital, where he died from his injuries. Shortly after the incident, Omar Gutierrez turned himself in to the sheriff's office and confessed to the shooting.

Gutierrez was arrested and charged with capital murder during the commission of a robbery and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. His accomplice, Thomas Terrazas, was arrested about two weeks later on January 20, 2023, and also faced a capital murder charge. In April 2023, a grand jury indicted both men on charges of murder and aggravated robbery; Gutierrez was also indicted for aggravated assault.

While awaiting trial in April 2024, Gutierrez was arrested again. He and his brother were charged with robbery after allegedly assaulting and robbing another 15-year-old boy near Odessa High School.

The case concluded in June 2025 when Omar Matthew Gutierrez and Thomas Terrazas, both then 20 years old, accepted a plea agreement. They pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter in the death of Bryan Sanchez. In exchange for their pleas, the murder and robbery charges were dismissed. A judge sentenced both men to 10 years of deferred adjudication and ordered them to complete 600 hours of community service. Gutierrez also pleaded guilty to the charges from the separate 2024 robbery case.