SUSPECT CHARGED WITH MURDER IN RGC FATAL SHOOTING

A 24-year-old Rio Grande City man is currently being held without bond on a murder charge in the fatal shooting of an acquaintance in the early morning hours on Saturday.
Juan R. Requenez, 22, of Rio Grande City was fatally shot shortly after 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 28. The shooting occurred outside a residence located at Teodora and Carter Streets in Rio Grande City. Requenez was shot while seated inside a pickup truck.
Gerardo Echavarria, Jr., 24, of Rio Grande City was arrested shortly after the shooting and charged with first degree murder. He was arraigned on Saturday morning before Municipal Judge Leo Lopez, Jr., who denied bond.
Rio Grande City Police Chief B.A. “Dutch” Piper indicated, “On Saturday at 2:45 a.m., the Rio Grande City Police Department received three 9-1-1calls about a shooting outside a residence located at Teodora and Carter Streets in Rio Grande City.”
Piper added, “Officers responded to the scene and found an individual slumped over in the driver’s side of a late model single cab Ford pickup. He had sustained multiple gunshot wounds. The suspect was there at the scene and was arrested.”
“The victim was shot at least four times,” stated the chief. “He was hit in the face and in the mid-torso area. The gunman was on the outside of the truck to the left of the victim.”
Requenez was pronounced dead at the scene by Justice of the Peace Ricardo Pena. An autopsy was scheduled to be performed on Monday afternoon, March 2.
Piper declared, “The shots were apparently fired at very close range. The weapon, a .40 caliber handgun, was recovered at the scene. We recovered several casings as well.”
Piper noted that “the gunman did not resist arrest and was captured at the scene.”
The chief explained, “There had been an argument and a scuffle prior to the shooting. After the scuffle, the victim got into his truck and the shots were fired…There were some people nearby, but we don’t know if they witnessed the shooting.”
“At this point, we don’t know for sure what the argument was about,” continued Piper. “…From what we’ve heard, the argument might have been over a female. We don’t know exactly what transpired…From what we understand, the gunman and victim were friends.”
Piper emphasized that investigation into the slaying is continuing.