Ernest Trevino Sr, 31, of Brenham, Texas, was fatally shot in the chest at his home in the 6400 block of Hummingbird Lane on April 10, 2017. Emergency responders arrived just before 11:00 p.m.; Trevino was taken to Scott and White Hospital in Brenham and pronounced dead.

Investigators found that 20-year-old Nicholas Royal Porter of Tomball had driven to Trevino’s home to collect a debt of about $2,000. The confrontation escalated inside the front door, where Porter shot Trevino in front of his children. Porter later confessed to the shooting to Texas Rangers. A search of Porter’s home turned up drug paraphernalia, marijuana, THC wax, prescription medications, stolen electronics, $50,000 in cash, and four firearms, including the pistol used in the killing.

Porter was indicted June 27, 2017, pled guilty September 28, 2017, and received a life sentence in November 2017. A later new trial resulted in his sentence being reduced to 40 years, with credit for time already served. Trevino was remembered by friends and family as a devoted father and a valued employee who had worked to turn his life around. Anyone with information about Trevino or the case is asked to come forward.