Man Sentenced to 22 Years for Killing Witness in Murder Case
In a recent court ruling, George Reyes, 22, has been sentenced to 22 years in prison for the murder of a key witness in a pending murder case against his friend. Reyes pleaded guilty to the murder and received the sentence from Judge James Obbish on Wednesday, as documented in court records.
The incident took place on Christmas Day 2020 when Reyes’ accomplice lured the witness, 20-year-old Sebastian Serrano, to the 3300 block of West 52nd Street through a conversation on Snapchat, according to prosecutors.
Upon Serrano’s arrival, Reyes allegedly approached him and fired multiple shots, hitting him in the chest, back, arm, and legs. Police responding to a ShotSpotter alert found 11 shell casings near Serrano’s body at the scene.
At the time of the murder, Reyes was out on bail for a felony drug case but was arrested for another narcotics offense about a week later. During his arrest, he provided information to the police about Serrano’s murder, including the shooter’s identity, which raised suspicions as the person he named was incarcerated during the incident, leading detectives to consider Reyes as a suspect.
Further investigation into Serrano’s phone revealed incriminating Snapchat communication that led him to the fatal encounter. Additionally, evidence found in Reyes’ social media records further linked him to the crime.
According to prosecutors, Reyes’ accomplice, Andres Giler, admitted to luring Serrano to the location where the murder took place, claiming that Reyes intended to kill Serrano for being a snitch. Reyes also allegedly expressed satisfaction about his friend Antonio Reyes’ murder case, as Serrano was the sole witness against him.
In a strategic legal move, Reyes agreed to a plea deal with prosecutors where the murder was classified as committed with a dangerous weapon other than a firearm, allowing him to avoid a 25-year sentencing enhancement. As per the terms of the agreement, Reyes must serve the full 22-year sentence.
Andres Giler, charged with murder for his role in luring Serrano, pleaded guilty to conspiracy against civil rights in 2022 and received an 18-month prison sentence from Judge Obbish, court documents confirm. Antonio Reyes’ murder case, unrelated to George Reyes, is still ongoing.
