Topline: A judge denied bond for 19-year-old Kenny Morales-Garcia, who is charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of Jesus De La Cruz Hernandez in Plant City.
Published: May 20, 2026 3:30 pm ET
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Kenny Morales-Garcia (via Plant City Police Department)
A Plant City murder case is moving forward with the teen defendant ordered held without bond after police said an argument ended in a deadly shooting at a red light.
PLANT CITY, FL — A 19-year-old defendant charged with fatally shooting his girlfriend’s stepfather in Plant City will remain jailed until trial after a judge granted the state’s motion for pretrial detention and denied bond.
According to WFLA’s report citing Plant City police and court proceedings, Kenny Morales-Garcia is accused of killing 45-year-old Jesus De La Cruz Hernandez earlier this month after an argument between the two men.
Investigators said the dispute began before the shooting and continued after the men left a restaurant in separate vehicles. Police said both vehicles later stopped at a red light near the intersection of Baker Street and Thonotosassa Road.
At that intersection, authorities allege Morales-Garcia fired multiple gunshots into the driver’s side door of Hernandez’s vehicle. Police said Hernandez was struck in the head and arm.
Hernandez was taken to a hospital, where he later died from his injuries, according to investigators.
Plant City police charged Morales-Garcia with first-degree murder with a firearm, direct discharge of a firearm into a vehicle, throwing a deadly missile into a vehicle, and criminal mischief.
The judge’s bond decision means Morales-Garcia will stay in custody while the case proceeds. The ruling came after the state sought pretrial detention in the homicide case.
The shooting drew added attention in Plant City because it followed a week in which residents had already been voicing concern about multiple shootings in the community. This case now stands as one of the city’s most serious recent violence investigations.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Bond Denied For Teen Charged in Shooting Death Of Girlfriend’s Stepfather
A judge denied bond for 19-year-old Kenny Morales-Garcia, who is charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of Jesus De La Cruz Hernandez in Plant City.
By Silvia Torres
Published: May 20, 2026 3:30 pm ET
Kenny Morales-Garcia (via Plant City Police Department)
A Plant City murder case is moving forward with the teen defendant ordered held without bond after police said an argument ended in a deadly shooting at a red light.
PLANT CITY, FL — A 19-year-old defendant charged with fatally shooting his girlfriend’s stepfather in Plant City will remain jailed until trial after a judge granted the state’s motion for pretrial detention and denied bond.
According to WFLA’s report citing Plant City police and court proceedings, Kenny Morales-Garcia is accused of killing 45-year-old Jesus De La Cruz Hernandez earlier this month after an argument between the two men.
Investigators said the dispute began before the shooting and continued after the men left a restaurant in separate vehicles. Police said both vehicles later stopped at a red light near the intersection of Baker Street and Thonotosassa Road.
At that intersection, authorities allege Morales-Garcia fired multiple gunshots into the driver’s side door of Hernandez’s vehicle. Police said Hernandez was struck in the head and arm.
Hernandez was taken to a hospital, where he later died from his injuries, according to investigators.
Plant City police charged Morales-Garcia with first-degree murder with a firearm, direct discharge of a firearm into a vehicle, throwing a deadly missile into a vehicle, and criminal mischief.
The judge’s bond decision means Morales-Garcia will stay in custody while the case proceeds. The ruling came after the state sought pretrial detention in the homicide case.
The shooting drew added attention in Plant City because it followed a week in which residents had already been voicing concern about multiple shootings in the community. This case now stands as one of the city’s most serious recent violence investigations.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Bond Denied For Teen Charged in Shooting Death Of Girlfriend’s Stepfather
A judge denied bond for 19-year-old Kenny Morales-Garcia, who is charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of Jesus De La Cruz Hernandez in Plant City.
By Silvia Torres
Published: May 20, 2026 3:30 pm ET
Kenny Morales-Garcia (via Plant City Police Department)
A Plant City murder case is moving forward with the teen defendant ordered held without bond after police said an argument ended in a deadly shooting at a red light.
PLANT CITY, FL — A 19-year-old defendant charged with fatally shooting his girlfriend’s stepfather in Plant City will remain jailed until trial after a judge granted the state’s motion for pretrial detention and denied bond.
According to WFLA’s report citing Plant City police and court proceedings, Kenny Morales-Garcia is accused of killing 45-year-old Jesus De La Cruz Hernandez earlier this month after an argument between the two men.
Investigators said the dispute began before the shooting and continued after the men left a restaurant in separate vehicles. Police said both vehicles later stopped at a red light near the intersection of Baker Street and Thonotosassa Road.
At that intersection, authorities allege Morales-Garcia fired multiple gunshots into the driver’s side door of Hernandez’s vehicle. Police said Hernandez was struck in the head and arm.
Hernandez was taken to a hospital, where he later died from his injuries, according to investigators.
Plant City police charged Morales-Garcia with first-degree murder with a firearm, direct discharge of a firearm into a vehicle, throwing a deadly missile into a vehicle, and criminal mischief.
The judge’s bond decision means Morales-Garcia will stay in custody while the case proceeds. The ruling came after the state sought pretrial detention in the homicide case.
The shooting drew added attention in Plant City because it followed a week in which residents had already been voicing concern about multiple shootings in the community. This case now stands as one of the city’s most serious recent violence investigations.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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