Drive-by shooter gets 35 years for '09 killing

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JANELLE STECKLEIN

Juan Sylvester Perez, a 25-year-old Amarillo man who gunned down a man during a north Amarillo drive-by shooting, pleaded guilty to murder Wednesday.

A judge sentenced Perez to 35 years in prison and a $5,000 fine for the July 2009 shooting death of Mark Anthony Rojas, 44.

Family said Rojas and Perez were in an altercation involving money earlier in the day at 1608 N. Manhattan St.

Investigators said Perez fled in a car but later returned armed with a gun. Police said Perez then shot Rojas, who was standing on his front porch, twice in the chest.

Rojas collapsed inside his home and died 40 minutes later.

Perez fled immediately after the killing but was apprehended in December 2009 in Albuquerque, N.M.