The man accused of killing Frida Castillo will not have a lawyer speak for him at trial. He will do it himself.

Fernando Machado faces a capital murder charge in Webb County. A judge has now said yes to his request to drop his court-appointed lawyer. Word of the ruling came out Sept. 25. That lawyer will stay on the case only as standby counsel.

Standby counsel is a backup. The lawyer sits close by and can help if asked. But Machado will run his own defense. That means he will talk to the jury and ask the witnesses questions.

Both sides say they are ready for trial. Machado has a status hearing next week to go over the evidence. They will start picking a jury on Dec. 7.

It is not clear why he wants to be his own lawyer.

The shooting took place on March 15, 2025, in the Cheyenne Subdivision in south Laredo. Police said a man was firing into the area from inside a home. They said he had a high-powered rifle and a handgun.

Laredo Police Chief Miguel Rodriguez said the shooter fired more than 100 rounds. Police said he shot at officers. Four SWAT officers fired back and hit him.

Officers found three people shot inside. Frida Castillo, 20, died. Her brother, Jorge Castillo, 22, and her mom, Diana Lopez, 44, were badly hurt. Police said it was the third killing in Laredo that year.

Police named Machado as the shooter. They said he was 27 at the time. They said Castillo was believed to be his ex-girlfriend.

"There was a breakup in the relationship between him and the deceased, so at that point, it kinda turned bad," said Joe Baeza with the Laredo Police Department.

Baeza said the attack looked planned. "Our indications show that he showed up ready," he said. The chief said the amount of ammo pointed to a careful plan. So did a vest made to hold ammo clips. Police also said they had not found a clear motive yet.

Police said this was not the first time Machado was accused of hurting Castillo. An arrest affidavit says she told police in May 2024 that he choked her. He was arrested on that charge in January 2025. Jail records show he got out on bond the next day.

The chief said that charge led to an emergency protective order. That is a court order to keep a person away from someone.

"As we know, the emergency protective order was violated," Rodriguez said.

On the day of the shooting, the chief put it this way: "He should have never been close to Ms. Castillo."

In June 2025, a Webb County grand jury indicted Machado. Court records show he faces capital murder and 26 more charges. They include burglary of a home and deadly conduct for firing a gun. They also include animal cruelty.

Several charges are for aggravated assault against a public servant. That means using a weapon against someone like a police officer.

Machado pleaded not guilty in July 2025. Court records show he is still in jail with no bond on the capital murder charge.

Capital murder is the worst crime charge in Texas. It has just two punishments. One is life in prison with no chance of parole. The other is death. Prosecutors have said they will not seek death in this case.

This is not the first time Machado has tried to be his own lawyer. The Webb County docket shows a judge let him do it in December 2025. The judge also said yes to a state request. Prosecutors wanted his mind checked to see if he was fit for trial. The check asks if a person gets what the case is about. It also asks if he can help in his own defense. It is not clear what the check found.

Then things changed. Judge David Garcia runs the 406th District Court. In March 2026, court records show he named attorney Fred Trevino to take over the defense. By May, Judge Garcia had reminded Machado that the state is not seeking death.

On Aug. 17, Machado had a choice. He could take a plea deal or go to trial. He said no to the deal. He also said he wanted to be his own lawyer again. The judge gave his lawyer one more chance to meet with him first.

Now the judge has said yes.

Neighbors still remember that day. "I was just really worried for the people around me, my family. People here, like, they have kids. What if something were to happen to them?" one neighbor said.

The trial will be in the 406th District Court. When the trial starts, Machado will face the jury on his own.

Everyone is presumed innocent until proved otherwise.