Arrest made in Taft shooting that left 4 dead
By: Meagan Falcon and Tim Acosta, Corpus Christi Caller Times
TAFT — An arrest has been made in Saturday’s shooting in Taft that left four people dead at a toddler’s birthday party, and one more person is wanted in connection with the incident.
Sgt. Nathan Brandley, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Public Safety, said 20-year-old Ronnie Rodriguez Jr. was taken into custody at his home in Taft by state troopers early Sunday morning. Rodriguez’s father — Ronnie Sr., 37 — is also wanted in connection with the fatal shooting, and is being sought by law enforcement, Brandley said.
The shooting occurred at 5:15 p.m. Saturday in the 500 block of Wilburn Street.
Brandley said an altercation took place between two families at a 1-year-old’s birthday party that escalated into a deadly shooting.
“Four adult males were found dead on scene,” Brandley said. “The fifth male was HALO-Flighted to Christus Spohn Hospital Shoreline.”
The victims were identified Sunday as Juan Espinoza Sr., 62; Juan Sandoval III, 20; Jeremy Sandoval, 22; and Nicky Sandoval, 25. The Sandovals were Espinoza’s grandsons, while his son — Juan Espinoza Jr., 43 — was listed in critical, but stable, condition at Christus Spohn Hospital Memorial.
Juan Espinoza Jr. is expected to survive his injuries, Brandley said.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Ronnie Rodriguez Sr. is asked to contact the San Patricio County Sheriff’s Office at (361) 364-9600.
Len Hayward and Chris Ramirez contributed to this report.
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