A 20-year-old San Marcos man has been charged with murder following a fentanyl poisoning incident that resulted in the death of a 19-year-old in Kyle, police reported. Isaac Arroyos is facing first-degree murder and felony third-degree manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance charges, as noted in statements by the Kyle Police Department and reported by KVUE.
The incident occurred on Oct. 19 when officers responded to a welfare concern call on Bellair Drive. Upon arrival, they discovered the victim, Edgard Escobar, exhibiting signs of fentanyl poisoning. In spite of immediate medical attention and interventions like CPR and Narcan, Escobar was pronounced dead at the scene. Arroyos attempted to flee when confronted by authorities, but was apprehended a block away, and, admitted to possessing THC vape cartridges. His subsequent arrest unearthed evidence suggesting he had been knowingly distributing fentanyl-laced pills.
Additionally, the Kyle Police Department disclosed that they have responded to three fentanyl poisonings on the same Saturday, indicating a disturbing trend in the use of this potent opioid in the community. Victims of the other poisonings, both teenagers, were taken to a nearby hospital and, after treatment, were reported stable and medically cleared.
"We are deeply saddened by another life lost to fentanyl. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the victim during this difficult time," stated Kyle Chief of Police Jeff Barnett, as reported by both KXAN. In his statement, Barnett extended his condolences to the bereaved family and lauded the swift action of the police in apprehending Arroyos, thus removing one more threat from our community.
Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid roughly 100 times more potent than morphine, has been found laced in various illicit drugs, often without the user’s knowledge. In this case, the substances resembled blue 30mg oxycodone tablets, commonly referred to as Percocet, a type commonly seeing in pills distributed in Kyle, elaborated police reports.
