The case stems from a shooting on Aug. 21, 2023, when Emmanuel "Manuel" Delgado was reportedly driving with three other teens in the car before he was shot and killed along Wallisville Road.
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Authorities initially said the gun unintentionally went off but later charged Fabian Valdez with shooting Delgado.
SEE PREVIOUS REPORT: 18-year-old accused of discharging gun, killing friend while driving in northeast Harris County
Arrest made weeks after family insisted 16-year-old didn't shoot himself
"He was shot and killed. He didn't shoot himself," Emmanuel's cousin, Adan Delgado, told ABC13 in September.
Delgado was a junior at C.E. King High School, according to his family.
"It hurts a lot. We're in pain. He was so young. He didn't deserve that," Emmanuel's other cousin, Palmira Delgado, said.
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Valdez and his family reportedly lived across the street from Emmanuel's family and were all friends.
Court records show the jury returned a no-bill on the case and failed to indict Valdez last month.
ORIGINAL REPORT: Gun goes off in car with 4 teens inside, killing 16-year-old driver in NE Harris Co., sheriff says
16-year-old driver 'very critical' after gun fired during crash: HCSO