(McKinney, Texas) – Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis announced that 28-year-old Kyvontre Elmore of Dallas has been sentenced to life in prison without parole for the murder of Jose “Antonio” Acosta Galvan. The jury found Elmore guilty of Capital Murder after reviewing damning evidence, including surveillance footage and videos Elmore posted on Instagram before the crime.
The Crime: On January 10, 2023, Antonio was sitting in his truck outside his apartment, talking to a coworker on the phone, when Elmore approached and attempted to carjack him. Antonio resisted, and Elmore shot him multiple times before driving away in the stolen truck. Neighbors who witnessed the incident called 911 and described the suspect’s clothing. That night, the truck was found abandoned and set on fire in Dallas.
The Investigation: Detectives from the Dallas Police Department, led by Detective Michael Nealey, worked tirelessly to track Elmore after the crime. Using surveillance footage from nearby businesses, they pieced together his movements, tracing him from the burning truck to a parking lot where he purchased a scooter. The footage also captured Elmore riding the scooter to another location before being picked up by a Lyft driver. Detective Nealey’s interview with the Lyft driver revealed that Elmore was dropped off at his girlfriend’s apartment in McKinney.
Dallas Police, with critical assistance from McKinney Police Department officers, began surveillance of the apartment complex. Just eight days after the murder, McKinney officers arrested Elmore outside the apartment while he was riding the same scooter purchased after the crime.
DPD Detective Frank Serra played a key role in analyzing Elmore’s phone records. His investigation revealed that Elmore traveled to the area just before the murder, turned off his phone during the crime, and later returned to the location where the truck was burned. Additionally, Euless Police Officer Jarad Hawthorne recovered a gun during an unrelated arrest two months later. Forensic analysis by April Kendrick, Firearms Supervisor at the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences, confirmed it was the murder weapon.
The Instagram Evidence: Elmore’s Instagram account provided crucial evidence. Videos posted on the day of the murder showed him wearing clothing that matched witness descriptions. In one video, recorded just over an hour before the murder, Elmore pulled a gun from his jacket and flashed it on camera. Messages from the same day revealed that after fleeing to McKinney, Elmore attempted to trade the gun.
The Verdict: The jury found Elmore guilty of Capital Murder. Texas law mandates a life sentence without the possibility of parole in such cases where the death penalty is not sought. Presiding Judge George Flint imposed the mandatory sentence.
Statement from DA Greg Willis: “We are thankful for the outstanding work of the Dallas Police Department in piecing together this case. From surveillance footage to phone data and even Elmore’s own Instagram posts, the evidence left no doubt about his guilt,” said Willis. “This verdict delivers justice for Antonio and his family and permanently removes a cold-blooded killer from our streets.”
Assistant Criminal District Attorneys Jamin Daly and Ashlyn Scott prosecuted the case, with support from District Attorney Investigator Michael Bennett and Victim Assistance Coordinator Melissa White.
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