Shivangi Sinha
In October 2019, it was an ordinary day for the regular crowd at Tequila KC, a bar in Kansas City, Kansas. Friends and family gathered as they often did, with nothing unusual about the evening until two armed individuals stormed into the establishment and opened fire. The sudden attack left five people critically wounded. Four victims, namely, Martin Rodriguez-Gonzalez, Francisco Anaya-Garcia, Alfredo Calderon, and Eber Meza-Aguirre, later died from their injuries. Investigation Discovery’s ‘Real PD: Kansas City’ episode, ‘Death Before Dishonor,’ documents the sequence of events, the intensive investigation that followed, and how law enforcement ultimately identified and apprehended those responsible.
The Tequila KC Victims Had Long Been Patrons of the Bar
Francisco Anaya Garcia was born on May 7, 1985, to J. Francisco Anaya Vasquez and Marcelina De Jesus Garcia Damiam in Mexico City’s Distrito Federal. He grew up alongside his two sisters, Lissette and Galicia, and in 1995, at the age of 10, moved with his family to Kansas City, Kansas. Francisco later graduated from Harmon High School and became a kind-hearted, generous man who never hesitated to help others. By 2019, he had found love and was engaged to his fiancée, Jessica. The two of them had plans about their future and even wanted to have kids. On October 6, 2019, he went to Tequila KC with her and a few friends. Alfredo Calderon Jr. was born on June 3, 1990, in Kansas City, Kansas.
He was raised by his parents, Alfredo Calderon Sr. and Leticia (Villegas) Calderon, in a loving home alongside his sisters, Irma Calderon and Yusmayra Calderon. From a young age, he was surrounded by strong family values, care, and support that shaped the person he became. Alfredo completed his education at Bishop Ward High School in 2009 and later found his calling in the business world. In 2012, he launched Calderon Heating and Cooling, dedicating himself to building the company so he could provide for his two children, Giuliani and Anayeli, and their mother, Mercedes Ontiveros. On October 6, 2019, he was spending the evening at Tequila KC with his brother-in-law, Celeste Trevino, enjoying what seemed like a normal night out.
Eber Meza Aguirre was born on January 25, 1990, to Sabino Meza and Gloria Leticia Aguirre. He was raised in a large, close-knit family alongside his siblings, Cesar, Eric, and Karla Meza, and was surrounded by many aunts and uncles. Over the years, Eber worked in various fields, and by 2019, he had begun working for a plumbing company. He was a hard-working man whose whole life was dedicated to his children, Eber Meza and Abeny Meza. Martin Rodriguez-Gonzalez was also at the bar on October 6, 2019; however, little is publicly known about him. He was a known member of the Latino community in the city and was an honest man, making the best of the life he had.
The Tequila KC Killings Took the lives of Four People and Left Five Injured
On October 6, 2019, around 1:30 am, two gunmen entered the Tequila KC Bar in Kansas City, Kansas, and opened fire on patrons inside. Eber Meza Aguirre, 29, was at the bar with Celeste Trevino, the sister-in-law of Alfredo Calderon. When the shooting began, Eber pushed Trevino out of harm’s way, an act that saved her life, but he was tragically shot. He later died alongside three others: Alfredo Calderon, also 29, Francisco Anaya-Garcia, 34, and 58-year-old Martin Rodriguez-Gonzalez.
Five additional people were critically wounded in the attack, but despite efforts by first responders, the four victims could not be saved. When police arrived, they found Jessica, Francisco’s fiancée, applying pressure to his wound until his final moments. She was left in shock and unable to speak after witnessing the violence. Officers immediately began securing the scene, speaking with witnesses, and working to piece together exactly what had happened.
The Tequila KC Killers Were Identified Through Witness Accounts and CCTV Footage
The police first reviewed CCTV footage from inside the bar, which showed two gunmen entering the venue, surveying the crowd, and then opening fire. Investigators believed the suspects were armed with 9mm handguns. Officers also interviewed survivors, which helped uncover events from the time before the shooting. On October 5, around 11 pm, bartender Jose Valdez refused to serve one customer due to his past behavior. The man reacted angrily, throwing a glass at Valdez, and was subsequently removed from the bar by security. Police were called to respond to the disturbance, but by the time they arrived, the individual had already left, leaving no immediate trace of his whereabouts.
Police believed the shooting may have been a retaliation linked to the earlier altercation, as surveillance footage showed the gunmen appearing to identify individuals before opening fire. However, investigators later determined there was no direct connection between the victims and those who carried out the attack. The suspects were allegedly linked to Florencia 13 (F13), a California-based Sureños gang associated with the Mexican Mafia, though authorities did not officially confirm this to avoid further escalation. Based on tips, police identified Javier Alatorre as one of the shooters. On October 6, the FBI, ATF, and Kansas City, Kansas, police arrested him at his home near 2600 Quincy Street, where they recovered a 9mm handgun and a Dodgers jersey matching surveillance footage.
The second suspect was identified as Hugo Villanueva-Morales, but officers were initially unable to locate him. Investigators later learned that he had fled to Dallas, Texas. Using cellular tracking data, the FBI determined that Villanueva-Morales traveled along Interstate 35 before crossing into Mexico. He remained at large for nearly two months as international authorities were alerted. On December 1, 2019, he was captured in Mexico and subsequently extradited to the Wyandotte County Jail to face charges.
Javier Alatorre and Hugo Villanueva-Morales Are Behind Bars in Kansas Today
Both Javier Alatorre and Hugo Villanueva-Morales were initially charged with four counts of first-degree murder. By January 2020, those charges were elevated to capital murder, along with additional counts of attempted murder and aggravated assault. In December 2023, Alatorre entered a guilty plea to four counts of second-degree murder. He was sentenced in June 2024 to 34 years in prison, with no possibility of parole. Villanueva-Morales remained in custody on a $1 million bond and chose to waive his right to a jury trial. Following a bench trial in April 2025, he was convicted of capital murder, attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault, four counts of aggravated battery, and unlawful possession of a firearm.
In July 2025, he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, with prosecutors dropping their pursuit of the death penalty. Alatorre is currently incarcerated at the Hutchinson Correctional Facility in Hutchinson, Kansas, with his earliest possible release date set for January 2049. Villanueva-Morales is also being held at the same facility, where he will remain incarcerated for the rest of his life.
