Julie Marie Lopez told investigators it was "my mistake." Now the 20-year-old will spend 15 years behind bars for her role in a San Antonio home invasion that left a young man dead.
Background
The fatal incident occurred at the Villas of Oak Creste apartments on Fredericksburg Road in San Antonio during the early morning hours of Oct. 26, 2024. San Antonio police responded to a 911 call around 4 a.m. reporting gunshots and bullet holes through apartment walls. Officers determined the gunfire originated from an adjacent unit where they discovered Isaiah Guevara, 20, dead from multiple gunshot wounds with shell casings scattered around his body.
Investigators found a QuikTrip gas station cup filled with red liquid still cold and dripping condensation on Guevara's dresser — a detail that would later prove pivotal to the case. For months, detectives worked to piece together what happened.
In January 2025, Lopez was arrested and charged with murder and aggravated robbery in connection with Guevara's death. A witness told police they saw two men fleeing the victim's unit and heard a woman yelling at them from the parking lot. Another witness reported seeing two men running downstairs, while doorbell camera footage captured three suspects fleeing the scene.
The Plea
Surveillance video from a QuikTrip near the apartment complex showed Lopez and Guevara together before the killing, authorities said. Police also uncovered Instagram messages between the pair sent that night, including plans to meet where Lopez sent Guevara her address for a rideshare pickup.
At 3:42 a.m., Lopez sent a voice message indicating a group of people was "hiding," according to court records. An anonymous tipster later told police they heard Lopez discussing the shooting with a relative after a Crime Stoppers bulletin featured surveillance images from the QuikTrip, and she admitted being at Guevara's apartment, describing the incident as a setup.
During her first police interview, Lopez acknowledged being at the slain man's apartment that night but refused to identify who she was with. When investigators warned she faced a murder charge while others would go free if she remained silent, she responded: "It's my choice," and "It's my mistake."
Days later, another witness came forward stating Lopez had been part of the scheme to rob Guevara and that one of her friends shot him when the robbery went awry. In March 2026, a 24-year-old man was charged with murder in the case, though those charges were dropped two months later for lack of evidence.
Lopez pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of aggravated robbery — a reduced charge from the original murder allegation. The plea deal brought a 15-year prison sentence handed down by 227th Criminal District Court Judge Christine Del Prado, who credited her with 499 days served in pretrial detention.
Key Takeaways
- Julie Marie Lopez was sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to aggravated robbery in the death of Isaiah Guevara, 20
- A QuikTrip cup filled with red liquid found at the scene matched surveillance footage showing Lopez and Guevara together before the killing
- Digital evidence including Instagram messages revealed plans between Lopez and Guevara to meet that night
- Lopez originally faced murder charges but pleaded to the lesser count under the agreement
- Charges against another suspect in the shooting were dropped for insufficient evidence
What's Next
Lopez begins her sentence immediately with credit for time served. The Guevara family has expressed frustration with the reduced charge, telling KSAT they will continue attending hearings, saying "it's just not fair." No additional suspects have been charged in connection with the fatal robbery.
The victim's aunt said prosecutors changed the case from a murder charge to aggravated robbery. "That's why we keep fighting," she told the station. "We're going to keep coming for the hearings because it's just not fair."