Tragedy struck the East Side of San Antonio when a dispute outside Vibe Sports Bar and Grill escalated into gun violence, leaving two dead and one hospitalized. The Bexar County Medical Examiner's office has named 21-year-old Brandon Jobe Armelin Jr. as one of the deceased. The other fatality, a 14-year-old teenager, was earlier identified as Romeo Cedillo with a gunshot wound to his neck and shoulder, officially ruled a homicide, as reported by KSAT.
Occurring close to 10:35 p.m. on Sunday, the disturbance took a dark turn when an unknown assailant opened fire in the parking lot, hitting two men and a teenager, according to KSAT. While fleeing in a vehicle, the gunman left behind Armelin and Cedillo, both of whom were pronounced dead at the scene. Police have yet to apprehend the suspect.
Neighbors express long-standing concerns regarding Vibe Bar and Grill. Having heard numerous arguments and witnessed fights, an anonymous resident conveyed fears of danger during interviews, saying, "It usually happens on the weekends, you know, when it gets packed, and you can hear they’re arguing in the parking lot," as told to News 4 San Antonio. This sentiment was echoed by other locals who have noticed an uptick in violence since the establishment began operating.
In response to the incident, the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission is scrutinizing Vibe Bar and Grill's history of violent encounters. There was a written warning issued to the bar in October of 2021 for failing to report a fight. In the course of the past year, over 50 emergency calls have been made to the bar, with at least a quarter involving gun-related instances. "I get scared because when they’re shooting and I’m in the living room, we can get hit,” an unnamed neighbor expressed concerns of stray bullets in their home during an interview with News 4 San Antonio.
The aftermath of the shooting was palpable as a subdued crowd gathered outside the police cordon, some grieving for those they believed were involved in the incident. As the San Antonio Police Department continues to investigate, the search for the suspect who disrupted the night with gunfire persists.
