Inset left: Gabriel Rosas (San Antonio Police Department). Inset right: Margaret Ureste (Sunset Memorial Park & Funeral Home). Background: San Antonio police officers speak with Rosas following the crash at a Walmart in San Antonio, Texas, in April 2024 (KSAT/YouTube).

In April 2024, 20-year-old Gabriel Rosas hit and killed 49-year-old Margaret Ureste. On Tuesday, he received a 20-year prison sentence for intoxication manslaughter, the harshest punishment available, following a plea agreement with the prosecution.

Ureste was transported to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead on May 1, 2024.

San Antonio police officers arrived at the Walmart in the city on 2100 Southeast Loop 410 Access Road to find the injured and unresponsive Ureste. Rosas was also there, with video from local ABC affiliate KSAT showing officers speaking with the detained man on that late April day.

According to the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office, Rosas had been drinking alcohol during his lunch break on the day of the incident. As Ureste was leaving the store at the end of her shift and walking through the parking lot, Rosas hit her with his vehicle.

“This case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of drinking and driving,” stated Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales. “We appreciate the court’s acknowledgment of the seriousness of this crime and the justice delivered for Margaret’s family.”

“This case is a reminder of the life-altering consequences that stem from drinking and driving,” Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales said. “We are thankful the court recognized the gravity of this offense and delivered justice for Margaret’s family.”

According to her obituary, Ureste had worked as a retail associate at Walmart for six years before her death. “When she was not working, she enjoyed being with her family, going out, or just simply relaxing on the sofa playing on her phone,” it adds. She left behind three children.