A man and his son were arrested in San Antonio on Wednesday evening on charges stemming from the alleged killing of a young couple who were about to welcome their first child.
Two arrests were made in San Antonio in connection to the murder. Ramon Preciado, 53, has been accused of abuse of a corpse, and Christopher Preciado, 19, has been charged with capital murder.
Although few details have been released by San Antonio police thus far, Sgt. Washington Moscoso said that the victims — 18-year-old Savanah Nicole Soto and 22-year-old Matthew Guerra — had been shot dead on December 21 in an apparent drug deal gone bad, according to NBC 5 DFW.
Guerra’s father, Gabriel Guerra, told KENS 5 that his son had a criminal history, including convictions for the unlawful carrying of a weapon, evading police, and an assault causing bodily injury.
As previously covered by The Dallas Express, Soto and Guerra were found shot to death inside the latter’s car on December 26, just a few days after missing the doctor’s appointment to induce the labor of their unborn son. Soto’s family grew increasingly concerned, and a CLEAR alert was issued for her on Christmas Day.
The crime scene stuck out as odd, with Police Chief Bill McManus calling it a “very, very perplexing crime scene,” according to CBS News Texas. Both victims had reportedly been shot behind the ears. Soto was found in the car’s front seat, and Guerra was found in the back.
Investigators now believe that the couple was shot elsewhere and then moved to Guerra’s car by the suspects, according to Moscoso. The investigation is still ongoing, and more charges against the Preciados may be filed at a later date.
In Dallas, the murder rate climbed 15% between 2022 and 2023, with a total of 246 deaths clocked, according to the City’s crime analytics dashboard. The new year does not bode well, with four homicides already logged as of January 3.
An officer shortage has hindered the Dallas Police Department’s efforts to fight crime. It currently fields around 3,000 officers, even though a City analysis found that 4,000 officers would be necessary to promote public safety effectively. The effects of the shortage have been evident in Downtown Dallas, which logs far more criminal activity than Fort Worth’s city center. The latter is patrolled by private security guards and a special police unit.