HOUSTON – A third suspect is still on the run and two others were arrested in connection with the deadly shooting of a woman in north Houston, according to the Houston Police Department.
The wanted suspect, John Marcos Araniva, 19, is charged with murder and tampering with evidence.
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Joel Francisco Rojas, 23, was charged with murder and tampering, and Sara Ramirez, 21, is charged with tampering with evidence. In addition, Ramirez is also charged with aggravated robbery in a separate incident.
All three suspects are charged for their alleged roles in the killing of Indigo Garza, 20.
The fatal shooting was reported on Feb. 23 at 11:30 p.m. at the La Casita apartment complex, located in the 300 block of Rosamond Street. Garza was found unresponsive in the parking lot of the complex, according to the Houston Police Department.
Garza was shot in the chest with a shotgun and pronounced dead at the scene, court records show.
Witnesses stated the suspect’s vehicle, a white Dodge Journey, was seen fleeing the scene after the shooting, according to police.
Through several surrounding surveillance videos, investigators were able to link the Dodge along with a black Ford Taurus to the crime scene, according to court documents. Surveillance video also reportedly showed the Dodge canvassing the apartments as if the three suspects inside were looking for someone.
According to court docs, Garza could be seen on video running across the street from the apartment complex to a convenience store. The drivers of the Dodge and Ford were seen accelerating towards her, trying to catch up to her and shoot her but aborted the mission when she made it safely to the store, according to investigators. The vehicles were then seen driving away before coming back around, docs show. Videos show the Ford being parked outside the apartment complex as the Dodge was driven into the complex.
Moments later, more videos show Garza leaving the store and walking back to the complex parking lot. The Dodge is seen being driven up to Garza and then away after she had been shot. According to a witness, Araniva allegedly got out the vehicle and said “remember me” before shooting her.
It was also revealed during the investigation that the white Dodge Journey was stolen during an aggravated robbery, records show. The SUV was recovered on March 3 after being abandoned. When investigators tried to search through the vehicle, they said it was bleached due to the use of cleaning wipes, which were found in the vehicle.
On Wednesday, Rojas and Ramirez were arrested without incident.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of wanted suspect John Araniva is asked to call the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-8477.