Courtroom brawl breaks out in Texas between murder suspect, family of teen victim shot 22 times

Frank DeLeon Jr. took a plea deal in the shooting death of 16-year-old Diamond Alvarez

A courtroom brawl broke out in Texas Tuesday between the family of a 16-year-old Texas girl who was shot in the back 22 times and the murder suspect who was accepting a plea deal.

Frank DeLeon Jr. was appearing in court in Houston to plead guilty in the case of the 2022 fatal shooting of his 16-year-old ex-girlfriend, Diamond Alvarez.

The fight erupted after Alvarez's mother, Anna Machado, called DeLeon a "monster" during her victim impact statement, FOX26 Houston reported.

Video from the courtroom obtained by the local station shows Machado leaving the stand and walking toward DeLeon when a bailiff restrains her.

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A family member charged suspect Frank DeLeon Jr. and began punching him Tuesday in court. (FOX26 Houston KRIV)

Another family member is then seen charging at DeLeon and throwing a flurry of punches, and both men end up on the ground. Machado’s mother and DeLeon’s mother were also involved in a scuffle. Court security intervened and separated the families.

Machado later addressed the brawl, telling reporters that DeLeon had laughed in her face and that her daughter’s life was not a joke, KHOU-TV reported.

Security broke up the fighting in the Houston courtroom. (FOX26 Houston KRIV)

"He's a monster in my eyes. That would never change," Machado said. "Did he look remorseful at all? No. He was laughing at my face … it's a joke. A life is not a joke. My daughter's not a joke."

Machado also apologized for the incident.

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"That was wrong of me. That was wrong of us because we’re not monsters," she said. "But it’s so much hate because I want my daughter back. And what he did was horrible. Whatever happened, that was wrong of us, and I apologize for that. I apologize to the judge and I apologize to them."

Frank DeLeon, left, was 17 years old when he shot his 16-year-old ex-girlfriend, Diamond Alvarez, right, in the back 22 times, killing her in January 2022, authorities have said. (Houston Police Department/FOX26 Houston)

Alvarez was killed in January 2022 after learning DeLeon was having a romantic relationship with another girl and agreeing to meet him at a park in the 5100 block of Markwood Lane near her home, according to police. The teen was walking her dog when she was killed.

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DeLeon will return to court Thursday for sentencing. As part of his plea deal, DeLeon will have to serve half of his 45-year sentence before being eligible for parole. 

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