MCKINNEY, TX – A Dallas man was sentenced to life in prison after a Collin County jury found him guilty of carjacking and murdering a stranger in cold blood. The jury’s decision came after prosecutors presented overwhelming evidence, including a social media video showing the defendant brandishing the murder weapon.
The case involved 28-year-old Kavon Elmore, who was captured on surveillance and social media videos, which played a crucial role in tracking his actions leading up to and following the crime. One such video, posted on Instagram just an hour before the murder, showed Elmore displaying the firearm later used to kill 39-year-old Jose Antonio Acosta Galvan, known as Antonio to his friends and family.
The murder occurred in January 2023 when Elmore approached Galvan outside his Dallas apartment while he was on the phone with a coworker. Elmore attempted to steal Galvan’s truck, and when Galvan resisted, Elmore shot him. The crime was marked by a chilling lack of remorse, as Elmore later abandoned the truck and set it ablaze in a Dallas street, captured on surveillance footage as he walked away in distinctive white clothing.
Investigators also uncovered an Instagram message where Elmore attempted to trade the gun used in the crime. Further evidence showed that after the murder, Elmore bought a scooter and took a ride-sharing service to his girlfriend’s apartment in McKinney. Police surveillance captured him riding the scooter at the complex, corroborating the timeline of events.
A week after the murder, Dallas and McKinney police arrested Elmore, leading to a trial that concluded nearly two years later with a guilty verdict. The evidence, including cell phone records placing Elmore at the murder scene and the location where the truck was burned, left little doubt of his guilt.
Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis expressed satisfaction with the jury’s decision, emphasizing the impact of the crime on Galvan’s family, who will never see or speak to him again. The trial, held at the Collin County Courthouse, spanned three days, with the jury taking a day and a half to deliberate before reaching their verdict.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the senseless violence that can shatter lives and communities, as well as the importance of social media and surveillance technology in modern criminal investigations.