Late in the evening on December 4, a quiet stretch of West Dyna Drive in north Houston’s Aldine area became the scene of a heartbreaking tragedy that has since left a community seeking answers and justice. Thirty-six-year-old Yaddua Barraza Hernandez, a cherished local food-truck owner known for his warmth and culinary passion, was found shot and killed inside his beloved taco truck after closing up for the night. This week, Houston police arrested 24-year-old Angel Adonis Saldivar-James, charging him with murder in connection with the fatal shooting.
Family members grew increasingly worried late that Friday night after Hernandez, who lived to serve tacos and Mexican dishes alongside his wife, failed to return home following a late shift. They had agreed he would call once the food truck was locked up — a routine he never missed. When their calls went unanswered, their fear grew, prompting them to check on him. What they discovered would forever change their lives.
Just before 11 p.m. on that Thursday, two men approached the taco truck at 119 West Dyna Drive, not far from the bustling Interstate 45 corridor, according to police reports. Security footage later showed one of the men firing shots directly into the truck while the other rifled through the cash box, making off with what money was inside. The suspects then fled on foot into the cold Houston night.
Houston police officers responded swiftly after concerned family members called 911, finding Hernandez unresponsive with at least one gunshot wound inside his truck. Emergency crews declared him dead at the scene, leaving loved ones beside themselves with grief and the community stunned that someone so full of life could be taken so abruptly.
Investigators say their efforts to piece together the events paid off. Days of reviewing surveillance footage, tracking tips and old-fashioned detective work led them to Angel Adonis Saldivar-James, who authorities now allege was the person who pulled the trigger. Saldivar-James was taken into custody on Monday, December 8, and formally charged with murder. As of now, court records show he remains in the Harris County Jail without a listed attorney.
Those who knew Hernandez, who also went by “Aless,” remember him not just as a hard-working business owner but as a loving father and husband whose joyful spirit was as much a part of his food as the spices he used. A GoFundMe started by his brother paints a picture of a man whose laughter was infectious, whose kitchen was his stage, and whose kids were the center of his world. His food truck wasn’t just a business — it was a labor of love shared with everyone who stopped by.
Now, as the legal process begins and the community mourns, the story remains alive in the memories of those who felt Hernandez’s warmth and tasted his food. His name and legacy live on in every taco served and every shared memory of his kindness — a reminder of how one life, so full of love and joy, can leave an enduring impact.
