Lubbock man put on probation for hiding gun used in fatal shooting

A 21-year-old man was placed on probation for 10 years after admitting to hindering a homicide investigation when he hid the gun he reportedly used in a deadly December 2020 shooting in Central Lubbock.

Isaiah Guartuche pleaded guilty to a count of tampering or fabricating evidence, a third-degree felony that carries a punishment of two to 10 years in prison.

He was placed on community supervision for 10 years in exchange for his plea and faces up to 10 years in prison if he violates the conditions of his probation.

Guartuche was initially arrested on Dec. 6, 2020 on a warrant charging him with murder in the fatal shooting of 31-year-old Michael Constancio at a home in central Lubbock. However, he was indicted on Feb. 10 on the tampering charge.

Lubbock County District Attorney's Office officials at the time confirmed to the Avalanche-Journal that the case on the fatal shooting was presented to grand jurors, who returned a no-bill on any homicide-related charges and instead indicted him on the tampering charge.

However, officials could not comment on how the grand jury, which deliberates in secret, made its decision.

Guartuche's charge stems from a shots fired call in the 2300 block of 39th Street where Lubbock police found Constancio in the driveway suffering gunshot wounds. He was taken to University Medical Center where he died.

Witnesses told police Guartuche had an argument with a woman about a water cooler and pushed her in the face. Constancio arrived at the residence and confronted Guartuche about laying his hands on the woman and challenged him to a fight.

Another witness told investigators that Guartuche did not want to fight Constancio, who was unarmed. She said Constancio charged at Guartuche, who turned away. But Constancio grabbed Guartuche's hoodie and Guartuche drew a firearm and shot Constancio three times in the chest. Constancio collapsed and she and Guartuche left in a vehicle.

Guartuche reportedly admitted to investigators that he shot Constancio becasue he was afraid of him. However, he said Constancio didn't verbally threaten him, the warrant states.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Isaiah Guartuche get probation for hiding gun used in fatal shooting