Convicted killer Daniel Lopez describes night he killed Joey Burgi

Daniel Lopez, 51, testified in his own defense about the night Jose “Joey” Burgi was killed and apologized as jurors considered punishment for a crime that has left a Del Rio family and the wider Val Verde County community reeling. Lopez was convicted of murder and handed a 65-year prison sentence.

Burgi’s body was found lying in the road at the intersection of Las Brisas Boulevard and Sundance Kid Trail just north of Del Rio in the early morning hours of Oct. 2, 2023. Investigators narrowed their focus after learning Lopez and Burgi had been seen together a few hours before Burgi’s death; Lopez was later arrested and charged in connection with the killing.

The trial ran five days and included a guilt-innocence phase and a punishment phase in which family members spoke about the toll of the loss. During punishment proceedings, West called Raquel Burgi, Joey Burgi’s mother, to describe how the slaying has affected the family. “It has really broken him,” Raquel Burgi said of her husband, Ronald Burgi. “There’s a gap. There’s something missing, and there will always be something missing,” she testified, referring to her five remaining sons. “I don’t think any of us will ever be safe in this community as long as he (Lopez) is in it.”

Lopez took the stand to give jurors his version of the events. He said he panicked after Burgi’s death, threw Burgi’s phone and the shotgun off the Lake Amistad bridge, and did not call police because he feared nobody would believe him given his criminal history. “I just pretended like it was a bad dream, a nightmare,” Lopez testified. He added, “I’m sorry for what happened that night. I should have stayed at the hotel. I had no intention of hurting Burgi that night.” West questioned Lopez about his criminal history and alleged anger toward Burgi over stolen items. Mireles did not cross-examine Raquel and later called Daisy Flores, who testified she did not believe Lopez capable of violence.

The case has exposed deep community wounds that extend beyond courtroom procedure. Families in Del Rio and Val Verde County confront trauma, grief, and a lingering sense of insecurity that Raquel Burgi voiced plainly. The trial also highlighted a recurring public-health concern: when people with criminal records fear reporting emergencies, timeliness of care and public safety can suffer. Lopez’s account that fear of disbelief kept him from seeking help points to barriers that can affect how violence is reported and how quickly victims receive aid.

As Lopez begins a 65-year term, the questions left behind involve both accountability and community healing. Val Verde County leaders, public-safety agencies, and health providers will face pressure to address gaps in victim support, mental-health services, and public trust so that families like the Burgis can seek help and feel safe in the months ahead.