By Dan Colton
for The Beacon

Sergio Ochoa

The three-week trial for an Oostburg man accused of killing two people in 2017 started Monday Oct. 7.

Police said Sergio Ochoa, 43, shot and killed his cousin, Luis Garcia, and Garcia’s friend, Fernando Lara around 3 a.m. on July 30, 2017. According to authorities, Garcia owed Ochoa around $200 for bills. The men had been drinking at Garcia’s home in Oostburg when Garcia’s son reported hearing an argument, followed by the sound of gunfire.

“(Garcia’s son) then suddenly heard … four or five very loud gunshots,” according to a criminal complaint. “He said he was not able to hear any type of arguing taking place thereafter, but was only able to hear the Mexican-style music that had been playing previously.”

Another family member then called police.

Ochoa turned himself in to police at the Sheboygan Police Department.

“He said that he was scared, and did not mean to and that he did something bad,” the criminal complaint states. “He also advised there was a gun inside the vehicle.”

According to authorities, Garcia was shot six times. Police said Lara was struck by three bullets.

Law enforcement conducted a search of Ochoa’s car and said a 9mm handgun and ammunition was recovered from inside the vehicle.

The ammunition discovered in Ochoa’s car matched bullet casings from the crime scene, police said.

Ochoa is in custody at the Sheboygan County Detention Center on $500,000 bail. Each count of first-degree intentional homicide carries life in prison.