Jurors in Dawson County District Court Tuesday heard different versions of what happened on the night of January 21, 2025, when 40-year-old Maykel Farinas-Carballo was shot and killed outside a mobile home at 75 Cypress Lane in Lexington. Prosecutors allege Aristh Rodriguez-Linares deliberately fired 11 rounds into Farinas-Carballo’s vehicle, killing him, while defense attorneys contend Rodriguez-Linares acted in self-defense after being threatened and nearly struck by Carballo’s car.
Assistant Attorney General Sandra Allen told jurors the investigation began when the wife of Rodriguez-Linares called 911. Officers responding to the residence encountered a language barrier because the occupants spoke Spanish. Police initially believed they were responding to a domestic disturbance, but officers soon discovered Farinas-Carballo slumped behind the wheel of a vehicle with apparent gunshot wounds and multiple bullet holes through the windshield. A Glock 9mm handgun was later recovered inside the residence after Rodriguez-Linares allegedly directed officers to its location.
The state says investigators found 11 shell casings at the scene and determined all were fired from the Glock recovered from the home. Prosecutors said forensic evidence showed Farinas-Carballo was struck by six bullets, including wounds to the head and chest.
Allen told jurors investigators found no evidence of an ongoing dispute between the two men in text messages reviewed from their phones. However, she said police discovered bags containing methamphetamine and cocaine hidden in Farinas-Carballo’s vehicle, and DNA testing allegedly linked Rodriguez-Linares to two of the larger drug bags. Prosecutors argue the evidence will prove first-degree murder, use of a firearm to commit a felony, and discharging a firearm into an occupied vehicle.
Defense attorney David Tarrell painted a much different picture, telling jurors that Rodriguez-Linares, his wife Claudia, and their young son were spending a quiet evening celebrating the child’s birthday when Farinas-Carballo began repeatedly calling and texting. Tarrell said messages included statements interpreted as threats and that Rodriguez-Linares repeatedly told Farinas-Carballo not to come to his home. Despite those warnings, the defense claims Farinas-Carballo arrived at the residence and confronted Linares outside.
According to the defense, Farinas-Carballo appeared ready to leave after an argument but then suddenly accelerated his vehicle toward Rodriguez-Linares, knocking him down. Tarrell argued Rodriguez-Linares feared for his life and the safety of his wife and child, prompting him to fire his legally owned handgun. The defense also criticized portions of the police investigation, arguing some evidence was overlooked and that investigators became focused on proving Rodriguez-Linares’s guilt instead of fully exploring alternative explanations. Jurors are expected to hear testimony from law enforcement officers, forensic experts, and other witnesses as the trial continues.
The prosecution called a 9-1-1 dispatcher, two Lexington Police Officers and an Investigator to the stand later on Tuesday.
