San Marcos police have identified suspects in a string of three shootings near Texas State University that left 19-year-old Ronnie Hernandez Jr. dead and several others wounded. Two people have been arrested, and investigators are still searching for two more, including a 24-year-old man they say opened fire downtown. The violence unfolded the night of Nov. 1 into the early hours of Nov. 2 across Hopkins Street, Post Road and North LBJ Drive around the courthouse square. City officials have since boosted downtown patrols and urged anyone with information to contact investigators.
Police name suspects; manhunt continues
San Marcos police identified 24-year-old Patrick Dave Anderson as the suspect in the downtown shooting near Kissing Alley on Hopkins Street, and said 17-year-old John Anthony "Chucky" Contreras is wanted on an attempted-capital-murder charge, according to MySA. Authorities believe Anderson has left San Marcos, and the U.S. Marshals Service is assisting local investigators. Police told reporters that video shows a shooter firing into a crowd and then continuing to shoot at victims who were already down.
Downtown shooting left one dead, others hurt
The first shooting happened shortly after 10 p.m. near Kissing Alley on Hopkins Street, where three people were struck; two were transported to Ascension Seton Hays Hospital in Kyle and one later died at Christus Santa Rosa Hospital in San Marcos, according to KSAT. That downtown attack prompted police to order bars to close early as officers secured the square and gathered video evidence. A separate fight-turned-shooting at The Outpost apartments on Post Road sent at least one person to the hospital, and a third incident on North LBJ Drive led to a brief chase and an arrest that police say appears unrelated to the homicide.
Arrests, charges and what police allege
San Marcos police say 17-year-old D'antrae Houston was arrested on Nov. 6 in Lockhart and faces an aggravated-assault-with-a-deadly-weapon charge in the Outpost Apartments shooting, and 20-year-old Eliezer Johnson Hernandez was arrested after a brief chase on North LBJ Drive, according to San Antonio Express-News. Chief Stan Standridge has characterized the main suspect as "armed and dangerous" while investigators work to locate Anderson. Police also said a second individual connected to the downtown incident has been identified and is cooperating with the investigation.
Police step up patrols downtown
In the wake of the weekend's violence, SMPD said it would maintain a minimum of four officers per downtown shift, with support from Texas State University police, and could adjust coverage when school is not in session. Business owners described chaotic scenes as officers cleared the area and investigators canvassed for video and witnesses. Officials said the stepped-up presence will remain in place as detectives follow leads and the community absorbs the shock of the weekend's violence.
How to help investigators
Anyone with information on the shootings or the whereabouts of Patrick Dave Anderson or John Anthony "Chucky" Contreras is asked to call the San Marcos Police Department at 512-753-2108 or submit a tip to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-324-TIPS, authorities say. Police officials thanked members of the public who have come forward with video and photos that helped identify suspects. Investigators said the cases remain active and urged those with footage to preserve files and contact detectives.
