Timeline of deadly fight in Denny's parking lot

KTRK logo
What happened after the deadly fight at Denny's

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- John Hernandez died following an incident at a Denny's near Crosby on May 28, 2017. Investigators say Hernandez was urinating outside the restaurant and that Terry Thompson had yelled at him to stop. A physical altercation ensued, but it's not clear who initiated the confrontation.

Thompson's wife Chauna Thompson, who was a Harris County Sheriff's deputy at the time, was off-duty and met him at the restaurant.

Video shows Thompson on top of Hernandez with his arm around Hernandez's throat.

Hernandez stopped breathing and Chauna administered CPR. Hernandez was taken to the hospital but died days later.

Hernandez's family held a vigil outside Denny's, calling for justice in the case.

Thompson's attorney, Scot Courtney, said that the video doesn't tell the whole story. "They certainly don't show the beginning where Mr. Hernandez attacked my client. He was the initial aggressor."

Terry and Chauna Thompson were charged with murder.

On June 23, jurors were unable to reach a verdict after nearly 29 hours of deliberation. The judge in Terry Thompson's murder trial declared a mistrial.

DEATH AT DENNY'S: The fight, fatality and fallout of a fateful night

Oct. 23, Thompson's re-trial began.

Terry Thompson was found guilty of murder on Nov. 5.

Two days later, the jury sentenced Thompson to 25 years in prison.

Chauna Thompson's murder charge was dropped on April 3, 2019.

Copyright © 2024 KTRK-TV. All Rights Reserved.