Man Who Killed Pregnant Cousin and Two Others at Family Cookout Could Be Released Soon

Juan M. Mireles, a 51-year-old man from Michigan, pleaded no contest to charges of manslaughter and using a firearm to commit a felony after being involved in a tragic shooting that killed three of his cousins, including one who was six months pregnant. The shooting occurred during a summer cookout on June 5, 2022, in Saginaw, Michigan, marking a horrific family dispute that escalated to deadly violence.

Mireles was initially charged with three counts of open murder and felony firearm possession. However, after reaching a plea agreement with the Saginaw County Prosecutor’s Office, he entered a no-contest plea to the lesser charges of manslaughter and felony firearm use. The no-contest plea means that while Mireles did not explicitly admit to committing the crimes, he acknowledged that there was enough evidence to secure a conviction had the case gone to trial.

The victims of the shooting were Laura Buendia, Rafael Campos, and Mariano Escareño, all relatives of Mireles. Buendia, who was pregnant at the time, was among those fatally shot, but doctors managed to deliver her baby, who survived despite being born prematurely. Buendia’s death was a devastating blow to the family, particularly given that her unborn child, Rosalina, was delivered just a few months before her due date. Rosalina, who weighed less than three pounds at birth, spent several months in the hospital but was later discharged into the care of her grandparents. Two years after the incident, her father reported that Rosalina was thriving and doing well.

Mireles’s actions on that fateful night were fueled by a family argument. The incident began when Mireles’s sister became involved in a heated exchange with another woman at the cookout. The dispute was reportedly triggered by allegations that Mireles had assaulted the woman years earlier. Tensions escalated, and Mireles’s sister, in response, called her brother to the scene. Mireles arrived at the party in a minivan around 2:30 a.m., accompanied by his sister and her husband.

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As Mireles exited the vehicle, he reportedly shouted, “Who’s talkings?” before walking toward the gathering. Witness testimony regarding the exact sequence of events was inconsistent, with some saying Mireles fired first, while others suggested that the shots were fired by partygoers in self-defense. The confrontation quickly turned violent, and multiple shots were fired, leaving three people dead and one person wounded. Buendia’s sister, who had been inside the house at the time, recalled hearing eight loud gunshots after stepping outside.

Law enforcement arrived at the scene shortly thereafter, where they found Campos and Escareño dead from gunshot wounds. Buendia was rushed to a local hospital but died of her injuries shortly thereafter. Although she did not survive, doctors successfully delivered her baby, who, despite being born prematurely, survived the ordeal.

Mireles himself was injured during the shooting, suffering a gunshot wound to the abdomen, and his sister’s husband was wounded in the hand. Police later arrested Mireles, and he has been in custody since his October 2022 arrest.

The case surrounding the shooting is tragic not only because of the deaths but also because of the circumstances that led to the violence. Mireles’s history of violent behavior, including a previous conviction for pistol-whipping his ex-wife and shooting his brother in 2010, contributed to the severity of the situation. Mireles had served time for those crimes and had been on probation until 2016. His prior violent actions suggested a pattern of behavior that culminated in the fatal shooting at the cookout.

At Mireles’s upcoming sentencing, the court is expected to impose a sentence within the advisory sentencing guidelines for manslaughter, which typically ranges from three to eight years in prison. However, since Mireles has already been incarcerated since his 2022 arrest, it is possible that he may serve significantly less time. The fact that his plea deal included a conviction on a lesser charge and the potential for a reduced sentence has sparked concerns within the community, especially given the severity of the crime and the loss of life involved.

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This case has highlighted not only the tragic consequences of family feuds but also the way in which unresolved conflicts, fueled by past grievances, can escalate to devastating levels of violence. The lives lost in this tragic shooting are a stark reminder of the importance of resolving disputes peacefully and the long-lasting impact that such violence can have on the victims’ families. As for Rosalina, while she has survived and is reportedly doing well, the emotional toll on her family is immeasurable, and the scars of that tragic night will likely stay with them forever.