Dallas judge declares mistrial in capital murder case against Tren de Aragua gang member after deadlocked jury

A Dallas judge on Monday declared a mistrial in the capital murder case against Carlos Zambrano Bolivar, a member of the violent Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.

The jury on Monday said for a second time that they could not come to a unanimous decision his Bolivar’s case, with Judge Ernest White saying, "Let the record reflect that the jury has been deliberating three full days on the matter. That being the case, the court will declare a mistrial in this case," per NBC 5.

The Farmers Branch Police Department said that 25-year-old Bolivar had been involved in the kidnapping of Nilzuhly Petit, Petit’s daughter, and his nephew from a Dallas apartment complex in August 2024, with Petit later being shot and killed. The Department of Homeland Security said that Bolivar and three other suspects charged in the case are "illegally present Venezuelan nationals and documented members of Tren de Aragua."

Police said that Petit had been involved in a "complex ATM theft operation targeting several locations nationwide," and that after a recent ATM theft, "the suspects accused Petit of withholding portions of the stolen money from other group members." Petit was confronted by the group, who demanded payment, and Petit, his daughter, and his nephew were forcibly taken from an apartment in Farmers Branch. Petit was driven nearby and fatally shot.

During closing arguments, prosecutors said Bolivar played a major role in the kidnapping and murder, saying that Bolivar had been on the phone with a Tren de Aragua boss. Bolivar’s defense claimed that he was a victim of sex trafficking by the gang, and that he feared for his life and the lives of his family.

Karla Vazquez, the lead detective in the case, testified that Bolivar did not appear to be under duress in surveillance videos taken from the hotel where he and the other suspects returned following the murder. "It leads me to believe that he is trusted to enforce whatever the orders that the bosses are giving, and not only that, but he has a significant role by holding the phone by holding Nilzuly," she said.

Bolivar testified, crying while telling the jury that after he came to the US, he met members of the gang whose demands became violent. "He hit me with the gun around here, he was hitting me on my face like you’re going to die," he said. Bolivar claimed that the gang helped him find housing and work, but later roped him into the ATM theft operation.

Sean Daredia, one of Bolivar’s defense attorneys, said during the trial, "He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. He was caught up in a horrible situation that he couldn’t get out of."