Carlos Lee Suarez Jr. was convicted on four felony counts tied to 2024 incidents.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A Nueces County jury sentenced 17-year-old Carlos Lee Suarez Jr. to 45 years in prison after finding him guilty of attempted capital murder of a Corpus Christi police officer and three other felony counts.
The sentence closes the punishment phase of a case that began when Suarez was 15. Prosecutors said the case involved two separate 2024 incidents: threats against two juveniles in July and a December police encounter in which Suarez tried to shoot an officer while avoiding arrest.
Jurors convicted Suarez of attempted capital murder of a peace officer, two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and possession of a prohibited weapon. In court, the jury’s verdict on the most serious count was read aloud: “We the jury find the defendant Carlos Lee Suarez guilty of attempted capital murder as charged.”
Prosecutors said Suarez threatened two juveniles with a handgun on July 7, 2024. Months later, on Dec. 7, 2024, officers tried to arrest him in a separate encounter. Authorities said Suarez attempted to shoot and kill a Corpus Christi police officer during that arrest attempt. The officer later gave emotional testimony during sentencing and said he came within inches of being shot.
The weapons count centered on a handgun that authorities said had been modified with a device commonly called a Glock switch. Prosecutors said the device can allow a pistol to fire automatically. The charge added another layer to the case, which already carried high stakes because the alleged target in the December incident was a peace officer on duty.
Suarez was tried as an adult after the case moved out of juvenile court. That decision exposed him to adult penalties, even though he was 15 at the time of the crimes. The case drew attention across the Coastal Bend because of his age, the allegations involving juveniles and the attempted capital murder charge.
The 45-year sentence means Suarez will serve his punishment in the adult prison system. Court records and trial testimony shaped the jury’s decision during the guilt and punishment phases. No additional public court dates were immediately listed after sentencing.
Suarez remained in custody after the sentence was handed down. The case now moves from trial court toward the post-conviction stage, where any further filings would come through the court record.
Author note: Last updated June 10, 2026.