Texas father, 35, who was shot 30 times by neighbor in 'execution style' killing was murdered because he's Hispanic, congressman claims

Nearly a year after a Texas man was brutally killed in an 'execution-style' planned attack by his neighbor, a Congressman from the Lone Star State is calling for the hate crime charges in the slaying.

Aaron Martinez, 35, was shot up to 30 times, including several times in the back and in his forehead, according to local media reports. 

Investigators claim the victim's neighbor, Trevor McEuen, went as far as to use an attachment on his gun to catch bullet casings after fighting with neighbor for months before the murder.

Martinez's family and a Democratic congressman claim the feud wasn't just bad blood between neighbors in the Dallas suburb of Forney.

'Soon after the Martinez family settled in Forney, one of their neighbors launched a campaign of harassment against the family, telling them that Hispanics were not welcomed in the community,' US Rep. Joaquin Castro (D) said in a press conference.

Aaron Martinez, 35, was shot up to 30 times, including several times in the back and in his forehead, according to local media reports 

Aaron Martinez, 35, was shot and killed in May 2023 by a neighbor, prosecutors with the Kaufman County District Attorney's office allege. Martinez was born in Mexico but moved to the US and became an American citizen. He moved to Forney, Texas, east of Dallas, to buy a ranch where he could raise horses, his passion

Martinez pictured above with his wife and two children

'For months, the Martinez family asked the police to intervene but to little affect.'

Just days before the May 1 killing, Martinez's widow says they called police for help. 

'I feel like the Kaufman Sheriff's Department didn't take the call serious,' Priscilla Martinez said. 

'I feel like if they had went next door and talked to the neighbor, I feel like maybe the murder might have not happened. The police were called out many times and I feel like nothing was done.' 

McEuen is facing capital murder, the toughest charge allowed under Texas law-- making him eligible for the death penalty, the district attorney office's in Kaufman County confirmed to DailyMail.com, and added the office could not comment on any open case.

Trevor McEuen, 31, is charged with capital murder in Kaufman County, public records show

Aaron Martinez was sitting in his truck when his neighbor opened fire on him, prosecutors claim. His bullet-ridden truck seen above shows the amount of times Martinez was shot at

Trevor McEuen was arrested following a SWAT standoff after Martinez's death in May 2023

Often times, hate crime charges are left to the US government, as many states don't have jurisdiction. 

'Local authorities have dragged their feet on filing the hate crimes charges that are so clearly warranted,' Castro stated.

U.S. Congressman Joaquin Castro is pushing for hate charges to be filed against McEuen

'The federal government, federal prosecutors should take a very close look at it as well.'

Castro said Martinez's killing comes against the backdrop of rising hate against Hispanics, coupled with anti-immigrant language used by elected leaders.

The San Antonio Democrat pointed to the Walmart massacre in El Paso in 2019, when a gunman drove 10 hours from the Dallas area to the border in West Texas because he wanted to stop what he believed was the 'Hispanic invasion of Texas.'

During the attack, 23 people were killed by Patrick Crusius who posted a hate-filled manifesto before the attack, saying he feared Hispanics would vote and change the make up of the country. 

'The actions and the rhetoric of state and national leaders are empowering violent racist to believe that they can attack immigrants-- or people they believe are immigrants-- with impunity. That is what I believe in part at least, lead to Aaron's death.'

Castro has invited Martinez's widow to be his guest at the State of the Union address on Thursday.