The court said the 24-year-old murder suspect poses a continuing threat and will remain jailed in Harris County.
HOUSTON, Texas — A Harris County judge on Wednesday denied bail for Angel Adonis Saldivar-James, 24, who is charged with murder in the shooting death of taco truck owner Yaddua Barraza Hernandez in north Houston earlier this month. The ruling relied on a new Texas constitutional amendment that gives judges broader authority to hold some defendants without bond.
The decision marks an early and closely watched use of the state’s expanded bail-denial power in a high-profile case. Prosecutors argued Saldivar-James took part in a planned robbery that ended with Hernandez, 36, shot and killed as he closed his family’s business on West Dyna Drive in the Greenspoint area. The defense challenged the request, but the court found the evidence and circumstances showed a danger to the community and that less restrictive conditions would not ensure public safety. The suspect also faces an immigration detainer, according to the court discussion.
Investigators said two masked men approached the taco truck after 9 p.m. on Dec. 4 while the business was shutting down for the night. One man fired into the truck, striking Hernandez, while the other took cash, according to police accounts presented in court. Detectives later identified Saldivar-James as the alleged shooter after gathering surveillance video and witness information. He was arrested days later and charged with murder. In the hearing, prosecutors described a recorded interview in which the defendant was calm as he discussed armed robberies and the fatal encounter. “This defendant represents an ongoing threat,” a prosecutor said in open court. Defense counsel pushed back, saying the state was relying on disputed statements and untested video.
Under the amendment approved by Texas voters in 2023, judges may deny bail for defendants accused of certain violent crimes, including murder, if prosecutors show by clear and convincing evidence that releasing the person creates a substantial risk to public safety. Harris County prosecutors said this case met that standard and asked the court to keep Saldivar-James behind bars while the case proceeds. The judge agreed after reviewing surveillance images, portions of the police interview and a summary of prior conduct presented by the state. The court noted the defendant’s limited ties to the area and an immigration hold that would have complicated any release. Several relatives of the victim attended the hearing and listened from the first two rows.
The killing rattled a busy stretch of apartment complexes and small businesses off West Dyna Drive where taco trucks serve dinner crowds most nights. Records show Hernandez worked the family operation regularly and was well known to nearby residents. Police say the masked pair left the scene on foot and a car may have picked them up on a side street. The department has not announced any arrests of a second suspect and has not recovered the gun used in the shooting. Prosecutors told the court that additional charges could follow as evidence is processed and that detectives are still pulling data from nearby cameras.
The judge’s order means Saldivar-James will remain in the Harris County Jail during pretrial proceedings. Prosecutors said the case will be presented to a grand jury for indictment, a step expected in the coming weeks. An initial status setting is anticipated early next month, followed by discovery and potential motions over the recorded interview and any cellphone or video evidence. If indicted, the case would move to a trial docket later in 2026 unless a plea is reached. The district attorney’s office said it will notify the court if it seeks additional enhancements, including a possible co-defendant charge, once lab reports and video analyses are complete.
Outside the courtroom, a small group of neighbors and food vendors spoke quietly with relatives, leaving white flowers at a photo of Hernandez tucked into a folder. “He worked long hours and treated everyone kindly,” said a neighbor who gave her name as Maria. Another vendor described a stretch of slow nights since the shooting and said crews now close earlier. A relative of the victim thanked supporters and said the family wants a thorough case. “We believe the court made the right decision,” the relative said.
The defendant remains held without bond at the Harris County Jail. The next hearing is expected after the grand jury review, with a date to be set once prosecutors file the indictment paperwork.
Author note: Last updated December 18, 2025.