Blood stains the ground near Winchell St., where Angel Perez of San Benito was suspected to have been stabbed to death on Monday. (Staff photo by Michael Rodriguez)
By HEATHER CATHLEEN COX
Staff Writer
reporter@sbnewspaper.com
Esteban Rodriguez
San Benito police investigators are in hot pursuit of Esteban Rodriguez, 22, of San Benito who is a person of interest in a charge related to the death of a 19-year-old man on Monday.
“Right now it’s looking like first degree murder,” said San Benito Police Department Internal Affairs Detective Rogelio Banda, Jr. of a homicide which occurred in the early morning hours of Monday, November 19, at the intersection of Winchell and Rockefeller Streets in San Benito.
At least seven SBPD detectives, with assistance from patrol officers and Assistant Police Chief of Operations Michael Galvan responded to a call after 12:30 a.m. regarding a dispute in progress. The caller alerted authorities that a fight had broken out, and someone was possibly being assaulted.
As the initial SBPD officers arrived on the scene, a friend of the victim, who was identified as Angel Perez of San Benito, alerted officers’ attention. The friend motioned with his hands and flagged down the responding officers, saying, “He’s over here,” Banda said.
Perez, who had been stabbed numerous times was bleeding profusely and was barely conscious at that time, said Banda. The victim was transported to Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen via an ambulance but died just moments after his arrival. Perez’s family was notified.
Investigators have ordered an autopsy and are presently following up on several leads they hope will help identify a possible assailant or assailants.
At this time, four suspects have been apprehended and taken into police custody. Banda said they expect to formally file charges against someone as soon as Wednesday morning, though he remained mum on Tuesday as to who the individual(s) might be.
“We’re still looking for Esteban Rodriguez,” said Banda. “He is considered a person of interest in the homicide.”
Regarding the four individuals in custody, Banda said they “are still talking to investigators, though they are being placed under arrest for different charges and have not been charged with this homicide.” Though the identities of the aforementioned individuals have not been released at this time, two of the arrest charges include an aggravated assault warrant and a burglary of a vehicle.
For investigation purposes, this case is being treated as a homicide, the first occurring in the city of San Benito since 2009.
Read this story in the Nov. 21 edition of the San Benito News, or subscribe to our E-Edition by clicking here.
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