Local authorities have intensified their search to find the remaining suspect of five believed to have murdered a man during a home invasion last year.
Farmers Branch police are seeking help from the public to locate a capital murder suspect and bring a victim’s family long-awaited justice. Triston Calvillo, 20, is one of five people allegedly involved in the murder of 50-year-old Ramon Lemus Zapata that occurred during a home invasion robbery at 14228 Heritage Circle Dr. on October 13, 2022.
“It’s very important,” an undercover Farmers Branch officer told Fox 4 KDFW. “We are talking about an individual who lost their life over a senseless act.”
Investigators think that the victim’s son was the intended target. However, Zapata and his wife were the only ones inside the apartment when four suspects busted in through the door, as shown on video surveillance footage. A fifth suspect remained inside the white Chevy Impala they had been seen arriving in.
Zapata allegedly confronted one of the suspects with a BB gun and was fatally shot.
Three of the five suspects have since been arrested, while a fourth was fatally shot during a shootout with the Dallas Police Department Fugitive Unit in January of this year, as previously covered by The Dallas Express.
The latter was Joey Fraire, 18, who had a capital murder warrant out for his arrest at the time. Fraire, a passenger in a vehicle with an unnamed driver, was followed by law enforcement to the parking lot of the Bahama Glen Apartments in Dallas. The police task force confronted the two occupants, but while the driver complied with the officers’ instructions, Fraire allegedly did not.
During the encounter, the police unit reportedly spotted a handgun in Fraire’s possession. They attempted to distract him with a flash-bang grenade and pepper ball rounds, yet the suspect allegedly began firing at the officers, striking one in the foot.
Fraire was taken out after the task force returned fire, striking him several times. He eventually died of his wounds at the hospital.
Now, just one suspect has yet to be located. Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Calvillo is encouraged to contact Farmers Branch police.
“Right now, he could look different. Obviously, I’ve seen him with long hair, seen him with short hair. He might have a goatee. He might not have a goatee,” the undercover officer said, per Fox 4. “We need to locate him, not only because we believe he’s a threat to the public if anybody confronts him, but at the same time the family of Mr. Lemus Zapata needs closure.”
In Dallas, a total of 239 murders had been clocked as of December 20, according to the City’s crime analytics dashboard. This represents a year-over-year rise of 13.8%.
The murder rate continues to climb as Dallas police’s efforts to curb violent crime are dampened by a significant officer shortage. Although a City report recommended that approximately 4,000 officers staff Dallas’ police force, the city is currently patrolled by only around 3,000.
Downtown Dallas has become a crime hotspot amid this officer deficit. When compared to neighboring Fort Worth’s city center, Downtown Dallas sees considerably higher rates of assault, motor vehicle theft, drug crime, and more. A special neighborhood police unit and private security guards patrol the former.
