Several teens and young men were arrested in the months after the 14-year-old San Antonio ISD student was killed while walking home on the west side.
SAN ANTONIO — One of the suspects charged in the 2025 killing of 14-year-old San Antonio ISD student Simon Cuevas III learned how long he could spend behind bars on Monday.
Andrew Cantu, 18, was sentenced to 10 years, according to court records, making him the first identified suspect to received prison time after his role in the murder on April 16, 2025. He had pleaded no contest to a charge of child injury, which had been downgraded from murder.
Cuevas was ambushed by several Brewer Academy classmates and then shot dead while walking home from Brewer Academy.
It wasn’t until several weeks later that law enforcement made initial arrests. Cantu wasn’t taken into custody until October when he turned himself in; police had released a photo of him a few weeks prior.
Fernando Flores, 19, was been arrested in August 2025. He was later indicted and his trial expected to begin earlier this month, but there have been no official updates on where his case stands. He remains jailed on a $750,000 bond.
His attorney, Leland Garrett McRae, indicated he would fight for a lesser punishment than Cantu received. Flores is the suspect accused of pulling the trigger, according to an arrest affidavit.
“You’re not gonna make the situation better, putting years on young men to send a message,” McRae said.
Cantu, Flores and two young brothers arrested for their alleged roles in Cuevas’ killing all saw their charges reduced from capital murder to child injury or assault causing bodily injury to a child. An attorney not legally connected to the case told KENS 5 last year that prosecutors will often reduce charges for murder because it makes it easier to prove.
It’s unknown where the case of the young brothers – whose names haven’t been released on account of their age – stand as of Monday.
A fifth suspect, 20-year-old, Caesar Tijerina, died last summer after authorities said he shot himself in Laredo.
“My prayers were for the capture of all the suspects, but not in this manner,” Alejandra Cuevas, Simon’s mother, said in a social media post after the news that Tijerina was hospitalized before his death.