First responders found Juan Espinoza Sr, and his grandsons Juan Sandoval III, Jeremy Sandoval, and Nicky Sandoval, dead in the family home in Taft, Tx., on Saturday
Investigators say a party in South Texas to mark a toddler’s first birthday erupted in gunfire, leaving four men dead and a fifth man wounded.
Authorities said the shooting happened shortly after 5pm on Saturday in Taft, 12 miles north of Corpus Christi.
An altercation erupted between two families attending the party and escalated into a deadly shooting, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
The Texas Rangers are now investigating the incident.
Suspect: Ronnie Rodriguez, Jr., 20, was booked into the San Patricio County Jail on a charge of deadly conduct – discharging a firearm
Police spokesperson, Sgt. Nathan Brandley said one suspect is in custody but a second suspect hasn’t yet been arrested.
Sgt Brandley also identified those killed as 62-year-old Juan Espinoza Sr and his grandsons 20-year-old Juan Sandoval III, 22-year-old Jeremy Sandoval, and 25-year-old Nicky Sandoval. All were from Taft.
Espinoza Senoir’s , 43-year-old son Juan Espinoza Jr., who is the father of the three younger men, was airlifted to a Corpus Christi hospital with critical injuries, but he is is expected to survive.
‘There was a lot of people who witnessed this happen,’ Brandley told NBC.
‘[We’re] still interviewing eye-witnesses and everybody that was there at the party, trying to piece all the pieces of the puzzle together.’
Officials had hoped to be able to provide more details Sunday night.
The shooting occurred at a home on the 500 block of Wilburn Street in Taft, 12 miles north of Corpus Christi, Texas on Saturday evening
A suspect identified as Ronnie Rodriguez Jr., 20, who is in custody, and his father Ronnie Rodriguez Sr., 37, who is still at large.
Rodriguez Jr., was arrested at his home in Taft and was booked into the San Patricio County Jail on a charge of deadly conduct – discharging a firearm. His bond was set at $50,000. Sunday afternoon the bail was posted and he was released from jail. He still faces charges.
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