On April 2, 2025, Morgan pled guilty to murder for a maximum sentence of 50 years and requested the judge decide his punishment. On June 23, 2025, Judge Russell Wilson sentenced Charles Edward Morgan to 50 years in prison for the murder of Guadalupe Anguiano III, which occurred on September 6, 2021.
Morgan had been released from prison just one day before the incident and was staying with his mother, Heather Morgan. On the day of the offense, Morgan, his mother, the victim, and others living on the same property were cooking out together. Without warning and with no apparent motive, Morgan retrieved a shotgun and shot Anguiano in the chest at close range. He then fled the scene with his mother, attempting to reach Louisiana.
Multiple witnesses identified Morgan as the shooter, and both he and his mother were later apprehended by the Texas Department of Public Safety.
During the contested punishment hearing, the District Attorney’s Office presented evidence showing that Morgan had attempted to delay trial by feigning mental illness. Additionally, while at the mental health facility, the defendant and fellow residents made weapons using parts from an automatic blood pressure machine, created a riot situation, and threatened staff. He calculated violent attacks on other residents to the point that one requires continued neurological monitoring.
Even the defendant’s sister testified and described Guadalupe as most everyone did, as a sweet, kind, man.
The conviction and sentence were the result of a collaborative effort among law enforcement. The District Attorney’s Office extends its appreciation to the Atascosa County Sheriff’s Office, with special recognition to Lt. Gavin Lindsey and Chief Max Peralta for their diligent investigative work. We also thank Lara Tristan, Unit Manager of the Atascosa County Adult Probation Office, for preparing a comprehensive presentence investigation that gave the court valuable insight into the defendant’s background. Morgan’s mother is serving an 8 year sentence for her role in fleeing.
While no sentence can truly ease the pain of losing a loved one, Assistant District Attorney Erika Price worked tirelessly to ensure that justice was served on behalf of the victim’s family.
