HOUSTON, Texas – Houston police are searching for one of the two suspects wanted in the ambush-murder of a 71-year-old security guard. The second suspect is in custody.
The Houston Police Department (HPD) announced they have arrested Daniel Moreno, 22, on charges of capital murder for his role in the ambush of security guard Saul Cruz. Police are asking for the public’s help in finding the alleged shooter, Jonathan Vasquez, 21, according to a HPD press release obtained by Breitbart Texas.
In December, Breitbart Texas reported that Cruz was sitting in a security patrol vehicle outside a convenience store when two men snuck up on him in the darkness and opened fire. The duo allegedly fired multiple shots killing Cruz as he sat in the vehicle.
Houston police investigators released a security video from the store in December showing two masked gunmen sneaking up in the darkness on the security guard with their weapons at the ready. Moments later 71-year-old Saul Cruz would be dead.
Police said there was no confrontation between Cruz and the two men. They said the two men simply snuck up on the guard and opened fire. The two men robbed Cruz and fled the scene on foot, the police statement revealed.
A criminal complaint, obtained by Breitbart Texas, states that police watched the security video from the store and saw two men, one armed with an assault rifle, the second armed with a handgun, approach the vehicle. The man armed with the assault-style rifle, later identified as Vasquez, approached the driver’s side window and opened fire. The video shows Cruz was shot multiple times by the assailant with the assault rifle. That suspect reached into the vehicle and stole Cruz’ handgun, the video revealed.
The second suspect in the video was seen removing the car keys. He then attempted, unsuccessfully, to open the trunk of the patrol car. The two men then fled on foot.
Suspect Daniel Moreno in Custody
The criminal complaint reveals that a tip to Crime Stoppers provided police with the names of Jonathan Vasquez and Daniel Moreno. The two men are also suspects in a previous HPD case where Moreno has been charged with drug and weapon possession, according to the complaint.
Vasquez was identified by a person well known to him. While she said she had not seen him in about a year, she said Vasquez and Moreno showed up at her home, which is located three-tenths of a mile from the shooting scene. This was shortly before the time of the murder.
The witness told police that later that day, Vasquez called her and said he had a .45 caliber Smith and Wesson pistol to sell and he asked her not to judge him. He then sent her the YouTube video (shown above). At the time she saw the video, it only had about twenty views. She said Vasquez asked for her forgiveness.
She identified Vasquez as the suspect with the assault-style rifle and Daniel Moreno as the suspect with the handgun.
Moreno was taken into custody without incident on December 22, police stated.
The security guard was routinely seen parked outside the Anderson Market located in southwest Houston. The local market hired the security company following a series of break-ins. Police said they do not know if the shooters are connected to those burglaries.
Neighbors seemed stuck with sadness at the news of Cruz’s cold-blooded murder.
Court records describe Vasquez, the fugitive suspect, as a Hispanic male, 6 feet 2 inches tall, weighing 180 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes. He is currently wanted on a capital murder arrest warrant issued by 351st District Court Judge Kent Ellis.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Jonathan Vasquez is asked to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS (8477).
Bob Price serves as associate editor and senior political news contributor for Breitbart Texas and is a member of the original Breitbart Texas team. Follow him on Twitter@BobPriceBBTX.
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