Dallas police say a quiet afternoon in Pleasant Grove turned into a deadly setup when three people forced their way into an apartment after asking to borrow a plunger, leaving 24-year-old Juvenal Antero fatally shot while his wife and young son were inside. Investigators now say they have identified one of the three suspects, 26-year-old Arnold Sustaita Zapata, who faces a capital-murder charge and remains at large as detectives circulate images and video in an effort to track him and the two other men down.
Suspect identified
As reported by NBC 5, Dallas Police announced on Oct. 26 that they had identified Zapata as a suspect in the Dec. 30, 2023, killing and released a photo along with a physical description. Officials described him as about 6-foot-2 and roughly 260 pounds and say he should be considered armed and dangerous. Detectives are asking anyone who might recognize him to come forward as they continue to gather tips.
Surveillance images and suspect descriptions
According to FOX 4 Dallas-Fort-Worth, surveillance footage shows three people fleeing the scene in a four-door red Kia Soul shortly after the shooting, and still images from that video have been released to help identify everyone involved. Detectives describe one suspect as a white or Hispanic man dressed in all black and wearing a mask, another as a white or Hispanic man with a mustache who may have been wearing glasses, and a third as a Black man in a maroon hoodie with gold lettering. Police say they are pushing the images out widely, hoping someone recognizes the car, clothing or faces.
How the attack unfolded
As outlined by The Dallas Morning News, the shooting happened around 2:30 p.m. on Dec. 30 at the Maderas Apartments on S. St. Augustine Drive. Investigators say three people first knocked on the door and asked to borrow a plunger, then forced their way inside. Officers later found Antero shot in the unit, and he died at a hospital. His pregnant wife and their 4-year-old son were inside the home during the attack. Detectives initially released surveillance stills and video in January 2024 and say the case remains very active as they chase new leads.
Legal implications
Police say Zapata faces a capital-murder charge in connection with Antero's death. Under state law, that charge can apply when a killing happens during certain felonies and is classified as a capital felony. Per Texas Penal Code §19.03, a capital felony can carry a sentence of life in prison without parole or the death penalty if prosecutors decide to seek it. Whether the death penalty will be pursued in this case will be decided through the formal charging process and in court.
How to help
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Michael Christian at 469-670-4735 or [email protected] and to call Crime Stoppers at 214-373-8477 (214-373-TIPS) with case number 232551-2023, according to The Dallas Morning News. Crime Stoppers is offering a reward for tips that lead to an arrest and indictment. Authorities urge the public not to approach anyone they believe might be involved and instead to contact investigators immediately, especially if they recognize the vehicle or clothing seen in the surveillance footage.
Neighbors and friends describe Antero as a devoted family man, and his killing has deeply shaken the Pleasant Grove community, earlier reporting noted. Police say the investigation is ongoing and promise to release updates as new information becomes available. For now, they want anyone with even a small piece of information to call them or Crime Stoppers rather than confront potential suspects on their own.
