Gang member sentenced in Lubbock kidnapping case

A Lubbock teen gang member was sentenced Thursday to seven years in prison after admitting to participating in and recording an ordeal two years ago during which a teen was abducted at gunpoint, then taken to a home where he was severely beaten by multiple people.

David Lopez Jr., 19, appeared before 140th District Judge Douglas Freitag and pleaded guilty to a count of aggravated kidnapping with a deadly weapon, a first degree felony that carries a punishment of five years to life in prison.

Lopez, who has been out on bond since Aug. 22, appeared in court with his attorney, and entered his guilty plea in exchange for the sentence offered by the Lubbock County District Attorney's Office.

He is one of four people charged in the abduction and beating of 20-year-old Abram Flores.

Brett Comiskey, 21, was sentenced to 10 years in prison on March 5, after entering his guilty plea for the same charge.

Meanwhile, Ruben Botello, 21, and Zayen Garcia, 23, who are also charged with aggravated kidnapping with a deadly weapon, await trail.

Investigators believe the four are members of a local hybrid gang, who call themselves, "Gheto Boys."

Their charges stem from a Lubbock police investigation that began Sept. 3, 2022, four days after Flores was taken to the hospital for multiple injuries to his head and body.

He told police that he was talking to a friend on the second floor balcony of a home in the 100 block of Waco Avenue where he said two armed men arrived in a blue sport utility vehicle.

He said he tried to flee but a black man pressed a gun against his head while the other man came in front of him and pointed a firearm at his friend, telling him not to move.

He said the men escorted him down the stairway at gunpoint. However, Flores said he recognized Lopez as one of the men who abducted him. He said halfway down the stairs, Lopez struck him in the head with his weapon and took him to the blue SUV, where he saw Comiskey and Botello.

He said he heard someone who saw the abduction yell out that they were calling the police.

He said once inside the vehicle, his captors put a pillowcase over his head and drove away.

Flores told police he overheard his captors panicking because they believed police were on their way. He said one of the captors asked where they were taking him.

He told detectives that he overheard one of the men say they were going to take him to Comiskey's home in the 1600 block of Avenue Y.

Flores told investigators that he, Lopez, Comiskey and Botello were friends but had a falling out recently. He believed that he was assaulted in retaliation for a fight he had with Botello at Rodgers Park over the disrespect of his sister.

He said during the drive to Comiskey's home, his captors referenced the fight as they beat him with their guns.

Once inside the residence, Flores said he was beaten by multiple people including Lopez, Comiskey and Botello.

"They beat the hell out of me," Flores told investigators.

He said he could feel several people kick him in the head and body. At one point during the assault, the pillow case came off and he saw a large group of people around him, who continued to kick him.

The attack left him bleeding profusely. Flores said once the beating ended, Lopez and Comiskey drove him to a park where he was forced out of the vehicle and left on the curb.

He said he heard Comiskey tell him "good luck," before driving away.

Flores said he walked to a relative's residence where he passed out and was taken to the hospital.

Flores told investigators that he believed Lopez recorded the beating on his phone and shared it on social media. He said he heard from other people who said they saw that videos of the beating and a picture of him covered in blood as he sat in the back seat of a vehicle.

He said Lopez also sent him threatening messages by text and social media about the beatings.

About a month after the assault, Lubbock police arrested Lopez Sept. 30, 2022, in connection with an unrelated Sept. 16, 2022 armed robbery at an apartment complex in the 9400 block of Milwaukee Avenue.

His co-defendants in that case include 19-year-old Bailey Forrest, who is also facing an unrelated murder charge in the Sept. 27, 2022, death of 50-year-old Robert Stewart, whose body was found in the back seat of a Toyota RAV4 abandoned in an alley in the 2600 block of 46th Street.

Lopez was released Dec. 7, 2022 on bond set at $75,000.

Meanwhile, detectives investigating the kidnapping case obtained Lopez's phone after he was arrested for the robbery and found video evidence of the kidnapping.

Lopez was arrested in February 2023 after a Lubbock County grand jury returned an indictment charging him in the kidnapping case.

He was released about six months later on a bond set at $150,000.

Comiskey was arrested on Dec. 12, 2022, in connection with an unrelated continuous violence against the family charge. He pleaded guilty to a lesser included domestic violence charge during his March plea hearing in exchange for a time-served deal.

Garcia was arrested March 10, 2023 in Lamb County and was taken to the Lubbock County Detention Center where he remains. His bond is set at $150,000.

Botello was arrested April 21, 2023, on the kidnapping case and was released on bond in September.

During Thursday's hearing, Flores' victim impact statement was read by a prosecutor in court.

"I have nightmares to this day," Flores said.

He told Lopez he still struggles with his physical injuries as he can't hear out of one of his ears and sound is muffled out of another one.

Flores said he has built so much anger toward him and has a difficult time leaving his home or trusting people.