The Brothers Ortiz – Episode: "The Shooting"

Date: January 21, 2026
Produced by: Campside Media & iHeart Podcasts
Host/Narrator: Sean Flynn

Overview

Theme:
This episode, "The Shooting," brings listeners into the immediate and chaotic aftermath of Larry Ortiz’s murder during a home invasion at a rented beach house. Through firsthand family accounts, Sean Flynn narrates a night of mounting unease, the sudden eruption of violence, and the raw shock felt by the Ortiz family. It’s a story of love, regret, and the complicated bonds that tether family together—even as those bonds absorb the trauma of violent loss.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Night Leading Up to the Shooting

• Setting:
  The Ortiz family gathers at a rented beach house, CI la Vie, in Treasure Island, Texas—a familiar, intimate family gathering spot filled with kids' games, laughter, and, underneath, the sense that something is “off” about Larry.

• Atmosphere & Larry’s Mood:
  Larry is notably quieter and more reserved than usual. Both his daughter Larissa and sister Alicia notice him glued to his phone and not fully engaged with the group.

  • “He wasn’t very talkative. I could tell something was bothering him... He was really in his phone a lot that night.” – Larissa [06:35]

• Family Details:

  • Larissa, with her kids and their father, is in one room.
  • Alicia and her kids, PJ and Halo, drop in and plan to return after getting outfits for a quinceañera.
  • Nadlin, Larry’s eldest, arrives late, sharing fast food and laughs with him.

• A Rare Moment of Affection:

  • Nadlin unexpectedly hugs her dad and says "I love you," a rarity in their family.
    • “We're not really affectionate much... so yeah, I got to, like, hug and kiss him. And I went down. I just went to sleep.” – Nadlin [09:34]

2. The Invasion & The Shooting (Starting ~[15:43])

• Chaos Unfolds:

  • Larissa is woken up by commotion and hears what she thinks is fighting. She soon realizes it’s not family drama but an invasion.
    • “It literally sounded like fighting. And that's when I […] seen a man with a mask standing in front of the door, and he had a gun.” – Larissa [16:53]

• Multiple Intruders:

  • There are both male and female intruders, armed and masked, demanding money.

• Hostage Situation:

  • Alicia mistakes the armed woman for her cousin PJ before realizing the gravity: “The girl just turned the gun to me, and I’m like, damn... this is real.” [17:32]
  • Family members are forced to comply, lie on the floor, and comfort scared children.

• Larry’s Response:

  • Larry tries to de-escalate:
    • “I could just hear my dad, like, relax, chill. Like, we could fix this, you know? Like, we don’t have no money. My mom’s saying, like, we don’t have money.” – Alicia [19:11]

• The Gunshot:

  • Amid the chaos, a single gunshot is fired. Panic and screams erupt.
    • “All you hear is, like, a pop. My mom started screaming my dad's name, and I just heard one gunshot. And I just said, ma’am, I think my dad's been shot.” – Alicia [20:16]

• Aftermath:

  • Larissa’s boyfriend leads her and their daughter out, shielding them from the worst. Larissa later reflects on crossing over her father’s body to exit.
    • “I had to literally cross him to get out of the beach house. I can’t say that I cried ‘cus I was just like... it didn’t feel real what we were going through.” – Larissa [21:26]

3. The Family Learns of Larry’s Death

• First Calls:

  • Alicia is at a Whataburger drive-thru when she gets the call from Kissy, Larry’s wife, screaming. Alicia races back, devastated.
    • “I just remember putting my foot down as hard as I could and just going as fast as I could to get back to that beach house.” – Alicia [22:51]

• Gabe’s Experience:

  • Gabe wakes to Kissy’s hysterical call, learning his brother is unresponsive. A sheriff’s deputy confirms the grim news.
    • “Probably one of the few times in my life where I just absolutely felt helpless, like there’s nothing that I can do.” – Gabe [02:34]
    • “Now I’m fucking pissed. And it was like I disassociated myself at that moment... Then I became a DPS criminal investigator because that’s what I’ve done best.” [03:21]

• Gloria (Mother) Learns the News:

  • Gloria’s wrenching call from police is recounted in full.
    • “I said, ‘Who’s deceased?’... ‘Your son Larry Ortiz is dead.’... I couldn’t move. I was just. I was numb. I felt my body just coming numb. And I wanted to scream, but the scream could not come out.” – Gloria [24:06]

4. The Immediate Investigation (Post-Shooting)

• Gabe’s Cop Instincts:

  • Gabe recognizes his dual roles as brother and law enforcement. He alerts his extensive network in Texas law enforcement but chooses not to intervene at the scene to avoid conflicts of interest.
    • “There’s the balance between, hey, he’s my brother, but I’m also a DPS officer... I didn’t want it to be perceived that way.” – Gabe [32:01]

• On Motive and Targeting:

  • The narration points out:
    • “Random home invasions... are exceedingly rare… Instead, these kinds of attacks are targeted... The bad guys almost always know who they’re going after and what they’re trying to get.” [32:53]
    • It’s implicitly suggested that the intruders may have had knowledge of Larry’s activities or believed he had cash on hand.

• First Break in the Case:

  • About a month after the shooting, Gabe is informed that murder warrants are secured for six suspects.
    • “I get the phone call that hey, we’ve got good news, we just got the judge to sign off on these murder warrants for all... six of the suspects.” – Gabe [34:10]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Larry's Demeanor and Foreboding:

  • “He was just... it was off a little bit. He was a little off.” – Alicia [07:02]

• Family Chaos and Trauma:

  • “The whole house is screaming. I still had this gun to my head... my dad falls to the ground, like, face forward.” – Alicia [20:24]
  • “I always thought he was so invincible to things. Like a bullet took my dad away. Just hurt.” – Larissa [21:26]

• Gabe on Feeling Helpless:

  • “Probably one of the few times in my life where I just absolutely felt helpless, like there’s nothing that I can do.” – Gabe [02:34]

• Gloria’s Grief:

  • “I wanted to scream, but like the scream could not come out... finally I just screamed. It came out and I said, Larry’s gone.” – Gloria [24:06]

• Investigator’s Insight:

  • “Random home invasions... are exceedingly rare… Instead, these kinds of attacks are targeted.” – Sean Flynn (narrator) [32:53]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:34] – Gabe receives the call about Larry being shot
• [02:34] – Gabe’s conversation with the sheriff’s deputy, his helplessness
• [06:05] – Family describes Larry’s mood and behavior at the beach house
• [15:43] – Night devolves: Third (Larry III) returns, events leading to the invasion
• [16:53] – Larissa encounters masked intruder with a gun
• [17:32] – Alicia confronted at gunpoint, realizes the situation’s severity
• [19:11] – Hostage dynamics, family pleading with intruders
• [20:16] – The fatal gunshot is fired; chaos erupts
• [21:26] – Family evacuates, Larissa crosses over her father’s body
• [22:51] – Alicia gets the news, rushes back to the beach house
• [24:06] – Gloria receives the confirmation call of Larry’s death
• [29:35] – Gabe summarizes what he was told about the shooting
• [30:05] – Gabe’s breakdown and reflection on Larry’s life
• [32:53] – The narrator explains investigative logic regarding targeted invasions
• [34:10] – Investigation breakthrough: warrants issued for six suspects

Conclusion

Tone:
The episode is raw, immediate, and emotionally charged, delivered in the candid, plainspoken style of working-class Texans enduring unspeakable loss. Family voices dominate, painting a vivid picture of love, regret, guilt, and confusion in the aftermath of violent crime.

Cliffhanger:
The episode closes with Gabe receiving word of warrants for the suspected killers, setting the stage for the investigation's next phase and the family’s pursuit of answers—and possibly, justice.