UPDATE (04/10/2023, 11:21 a.m.)
A second suspect has been arrested for a murder that occurred on the morning of Halloween in 2022.
According to the Corpus Christi Police Department, 34-year-old Rodney O'Neal Runnels was arrested on April 7 at 4:26 p.m. on the 6600 block of Weber Rd. without incident.
Runnels was a second suspect in a fatal shooting that occurred at Motel 6 on the 5800 block of Williams Dr. on Oct. 31, 2022.
Officers were initially dispatched to a Motel 6 on the city's south side around 6:50 a.m. on October 31 in reference to an unknown man down. When police arrived on the scene, they found a deceased 46-year-old man with an apparent gunshot wound.
Through their investigation, homicide detectives followed up on several leads and were able to identify the first suspect.
The male, identified as 31-year-old Roman Vargas, had three outstanding warrants for Federal Probation Violation (No Bond), Unlawful Carrying of a Firearm by Felon ($25,000 Bond) and Possession of Controlled Substance PG-1 ($1,000 Bond).
The victim's identity has not been released.
UPDATE (11/01/2022, 11 a.m.)
A man was arrested and charged with murder Monday afternoon, following a shooting that took place early that same morning, according to a Corpus Christi Police Department blotter post.
31-year-old Roman Vargas was arrested around 3:45 p.m. on Monday at the 5100 block of I-37 — without incident — following an investigation by the CCPD and U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Violent Offender Fugitive Task Force.
The post states officers were called out for "an unknown man down" at the 5800 block of Williams Drive at about 6:50 a.m. on October 31.
When officials arrived at the scene, they found a dead 46-year-old man, who they determined died from injuries sustained from a gunshot wound.
An investigation led officials to Vargas as a possible suspect. Vargas also had three outstanding warrants for federal probation violation, unlawful carrying of a firearm by felon, and possession of a controlled substance.
Vargas was transported to the city detention center for processing and is being held on a $1 million bond.
ORIGINAL STORY (10/31/2022, 9:29 a.m.)
A man was found dead on the 5800 block of Williams Drive the morning of October 31 at a motel on the city's South Side.
Police were dispatched to Motel 6 concerning an unknown man down with blood on his shirt.
When police officers arrived, they said they found the man deceased, and according to Lieutenant Michael Pena, Robbery Homicide Detectives are now investigating.
Officials have not released any further details and are now waiting on an autopsy to determine how the man died.
This is a developing story, check back with KRIS 6 News for more updates.
