Web Desk
SAN ANTONIO — A 24-year-old man, Gilbert Gonzales, has been charged with murder following a deadly shooting that killed 33-year-old Jonathan Orta at an apartment complex just west of downtown.
The incident sparked a dramatic manhunt.
According to an arrest warrant, the shooting happened on Jan. 29 along the 200 block of Torreon Street. What began as a casual visit with friends quickly turned violent.
Witnesses reported that Orta was trying to leave the apartment complex when two gunshots suddenly echoed through the area.
Moments later, Orta collapsed, struggling for his life.
Police arrived to find Orta bleeding heavily. Despite the swift efforts of EMS crews, he was pronounced dead at the scene. The medical examiner confirmed he had been shot in the back, with the bullet passing through his stomach before exiting.
Authorities revealed that this was not the first gunfire that night. Witnesses said Gonzales had fired at Orta earlier in the evening. The situation turned fatal when Orta attempted to leave.
Residents quickly identified Gonzales as the shooter, prompting police to launch a large-scale manhunt.
Officers surrounded an apartment where they believed Gonzales was hiding. SWAT teams, armed with long guns, moved in while K-9 units tracked his scent. Several people, including children, were evacuated for safety during the standoff.
However, when officers stormed the apartment, Gonzales was not there.
Days later, police arrested Gonzales on an unrelated warrant. Although he denied any involvement in the shooting, detectives gathered enough evidence to charge him with Orta’s murder.
At the time of his arrest, Gonzales was already in custody for the unrelated charge. His bond for the murder charge has been set at $250,000.
While investigators now consider the case solved, the motive behind the shooting remains unclear. Police have not disclosed how Gonzales and Orta knew each other or what led to the violence.
