His son, then-14-year-old Abel Acosta, shot and killed 14-year-old Xavier Gonzalez, 17-year-old Rafael Garcia, and 16-year-old Ivan Noyala at a convenience store in Garland, Texas.
Richard Acosta, 34, was found guilty of capital murder this week after his son shot and killed three teenagers on Dec. 26, 2021. (Garland Police Department)
Richard drove his son to and from the convenience store on the night of the shooting, but did not pull the trigger, instead waiting outside in a truck while his son ran inside the store and opened fire.
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Abel is still on the run after disappearing on the night of the murders.
"We are only halfway to justice. The search continues," the Garland Police Department said in a statement after Richard was convicted. "We will not stop until Abel Acosta is captured."
Abel Acosta, pictured here holding a gun in an undated photo, is accused of shooting and killing three teenage boys at a convenience store on Dec. 26, 2021. (Garland Police Department)
Richard testified at trial that he drove his son to the store, but did not know the teen was armed and did not know his son shot anyone. Abel ran out of the store after the shooting and jumped in the backseat of Richard's truck.
"He says, ‘Go, get out. Somebody is shooting. Get me out of here,'" Richard testified, according to Fox 4 Dallas.
Richard Acosta maintains that he still does not know where his son is.