In a shocking twist to the Garland gas station shooting, police arrested a second suspect in connection to the triple murder and released the 14-year-old boy they had previously taken into custody without charge.
After seeing himself on the news, Richard Acosta Jr. turned himself in on Monday night. Acosta is now charged with capital murder.
According to Garland police, Acosta was the driver of the getaway vehicle seen on surveillance video outside the Texaco gas station on Walnut Lane.
The shooting left three people dead. Police identified the victims as Xavier Gonzales, 14, Ivan Noyola,15, and Rafael Garcia, 17. The injured victim’s identity has not been revealed, but a FOX 4 News report said he was an employee at the store.
Acosta was seen on surveillance video driving into the gas station shortly before the shooting. One person was then seen getting out of the vehicle and walking to the front door before opening fire inside.
The Dallas Express previously reported the 14-year-old boy was arrested for the shooting that left three teenagers dead and another critically injured. However, the police let the teen suspect go without charge.
The Garland Police Department released a statement saying the 14-year-old suspect has intimate knowledge of the shooting and has been cooperating with the investigation.
“Based on new information in the investigation, the 14-year-old is not being charged at this time,” the Garland Police Department said in the statement.
However, Garland PD maintains that the 14-year-old is still a person of interest in the case. The department revealed that detectives are searching for additional evidence that will positively identify the shooter.
Garland police also revealed that they now know the motive and say it was a targeted attack on some of the store patrons in retaliation for an earlier incident.
Acosta remained in jail as of Tuesday, and his bond was set at $1 million.
