Roy Nieto Gonzales, 64, of Galveston, has been sentenced to 35 years in prison for killing a bicyclist and 25 years for injuring another during a road rage incident sparked by a $5 dispute. Visiting Judge Leslie Yates delivered the sentence on March 28.
The attack happened on September 21, 2022, near 32nd Street and Avenue R½, where Galveston police found Cody Compian unresponsive in a ditch and Jennifer Cooper with visible injuries. Investigators later charged Gonzales with murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Gonzales pleaded guilty on March 24, 2025. During sentencing, prosecutors revealed that Gonzales and Compian argued over $5 Gonzales owed. After punching Compian, Gonzales chased both victims in his truck as they biked away. He ran a stop sign and struck them. A witness testified that Gonzales said Compian “deserved it” before fleeing.
Surveillance footage showed Gonzales later returned home and cut himself with a knife, falsely claiming that Compian had attacked him. Medical experts confirmed that Compian died from a fractured skull and severed spine.
Prosecutors emphasized Gonzales’s lengthy criminal record—five felony and four misdemeanor convictions—as evidence of repeated violent behavior. They also noted his attempt to frame the victim.
Due to his prior felonies, Gonzales faced a minimum of 25 years per charge. Judge Yates handed him 35 years for Compian’s murder and 25 years for assaulting Cooper.
The Galveston County Criminal District Attorney praised local police for their detailed and effective investigation.
