Dallas County prosecutors announced a mistrial after a jury could not reach a unanimous verdict in the case of Venezuelan gang member Carlos Zambrano Bolivar, who is accused of murder and kidnapping.

Bolivar allegedly participated in the abduction and killing of 33-year-old Nilzuhly Petit, believed to owe money to the dangerous Tren de Aragua gang. Petit was forcibly taken from an apartment complex on August 24, 2024, along with his nephew and daughter, and was later found shot to death on a roadside in Farmers Branch.

Jurors deliberated for three days but were unable to reach agreement, prompting Judge Ernest White to declare the mistrial.

Police reports indicate that Petit was involved in a nationwide ATM theft operation with the gang and reportedly withheld money from its members. Investigators identified Bolivar as a suspect in October 2024, alongside three other alleged gang members.

Bolivar’s defense claimed he acted under duress, fearing for his safety and that of his family due to being a victim of sexual trafficking. Prosecutors countered that video footage following the killing suggested Bolivar was not under duress. Defense attorney Sean Daredia said, “The jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict as to whether Carlos was acting by free choice or whether fear took that choice away. When there is that type of doubt, the law says the state has not met its burden.”

Bolivar had rejected a plea deal before trial that would have carried a 50-year prison sentence. A new jury will be selected for a second trial, with Bolivar expected to face retrial later this year.

The case marks the first capital murder prosecution in Dallas County involving the Tren de Aragua gang, highlighting the ongoing threat posed by transnational criminal organizations in the region.