[ad_1]
A manhunt continued Wednesday for a second suspect who was released just two days after Houston Police Sgt. Sean Rios was fatally shot after entering a hotel parking lot on his way to work, leaving behind four children.
The first suspect, Robert Soliz, 24, was arrested without incident around 3:15 p.m. Tuesday during a traffic stop on Interstate 10 in west Houston on a warrant accusing him of the murder of Rios on Monday. Police released security camera footage showing Soliz, seen in a white t-shirt, with another heavily tattooed Hispanic man, with a beard and mustache, and wearing a black t-shirt, authorities said.
The man, who has not been named by police, is wanted for questioning in connection with Rios’ death and was also seen in the video with a black van.
ARREST AT THE HOUSTON SERGEANT HOTEL
Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo first released the footage at a press conference Tuesday announcing Soliz’s arrest before the department’s account also shared the video on Twitter.
“This person is a person extremely interested in the murder of Sgt. Sean Rios. To that person: we’re coming to get you, we’re going to find you, so you might as well surrender, ”Acevedo said, without identifying the second suspect by name.
“The video that we are going to show to this community is clear,” said the chief. “The person, when they see themselves, will know who they are, but they will know that other people will know who that person is. We need this person in custody.
TEXAS COP SHOT AND KILLED AFTER ENTERING THE HOTEL PARKING
Investigators believe Soliz had been involved in road rage incidents involving guns, Acevedo said, although he initially did not cooperate with detectives questioning him. Soliz has since been booked into the Harris County Jail.
Rios, 47, was shot dead while driving his black KIA sedan to work on Interstate 45 in north Houston. The 25-year veteran of the Houston force staggered into a small motel office bleeding from multiple gunshot wounds. He collapsed and died around 1:30 p.m. Monday, and a manhunt ensued for the suspect.
Shortly before the Rios shooting was reported, police received 911 calls of gunfire between a white van and a blue Mercedes matching the description of the one owned by Soliz.
“And so we think there’s a high probability that Sgt. Rios saw this incident between these two vehicles and unfortunately ended up losing his life trying to intervene, ”Acevedo said. The chief said witnesses told officers that two Hispanic men fled the scene, one in the blue Mercedes, the other in a black Chevrolet truck, like the one seen in surveillance footage.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Rios is the second Houston police officer to be killed in the past three weeks and the fourth since December. Police sergeant. Harold Preston was shot and killed on October 20 while responding to a domestic violence situation. The 41-year-old ministry veteran was preparing to retire this year.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
[ad_2]
Source link