SAN ANTONIO – The first of three suspects in Monday evening's alleged beating death of a 41-year-old man has turned himself in, according to Sgt. Javier Salazar, San Antonio police spokesman.
Salazar said 25-year-old Bernardo Crisanto (pictured above) will be charged with murder in the death of Juan Romero.
"There was stomping involved," Salazar said of the assault at a convenience store in the 2300 block of Vance Jackson.
Police said Romero was outnumbered three-to-one in the confrontation.
"My understanding was any one of these suspects was large enough to inflict quite a.bit of injury," Salazar said."Multiply that times three and you can imagine the magnitude of the assault that took place."
He said Crisanto is 6 foot 7 inches tall and weighs 380 pounds, but the victim was 5 foot 5 inches, 125 pounds.
Salazar said police urge the second suspect Larry Castro to turn himself in.
He said Crisanto was one of two men who approached Romero, who then retreated inside the store.
Salazar said the third suspect followed Romero, began assaulting the victim, and that's when the others allegedly joined in the beating.
The fatal beating stems from an alleged debt Castro owed Romero over a lost game of pool.
Third suspect named in fatal beating
Meanwhile, the third and final suspect has been named in Romero's death.
Police said on Thursday afternoon that Jose Velez, 29, is the third man who helped to beat Romero to death.
Velez (seen below) is described as being 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighing 220 pounds.
He was seen in surveillance footage wearing a gray muscle shirt.
A warrant has been issued for his arrest.
Police are asking for anyone with information as to Velez or Castro's whereabouts to contact San Antonio Crime Stoppers at 224-STOP.
Crime Stoppers will pay up to $5,000 for information that leads to the arrest of the people responsible for this crime.