Police arrest 'one-man crime spree'

Ralph Torres, 24, charged with capital murder

SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio police on Wednesday arrested a 24-year-old man they called a "one-man crime spree" in connection with a string of shootings and robberies, including the slaying of a 61-year-old convenience store owner.

Ralph Torres, 24, was charged with capital murder in connection with the shooting death of Makansinh Udavat, 61, on Monday night at the Quick Stop in the 2800 block of Blanco Road, police said. Udavat's wife, who police said tried to protect her husband, was also wounded. She's since been released from a hospital.

Sgt. Jesse Salame, a San Antonio police spokesman, said that Torres is also accused of two other shootings and several robberies this week.

"This guy was very, very dangerous. He was shooting people, he was carjacking people. These were random, innocent victims," Salame said.

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He said that Torres was apprehended without incident after he returned from Mexico in one of the vehicles that police said he stole in a carjacking.

Salame said detectives don't know why Torres came back to San Antonio or what his motive was for the crime spree.

"I don't know what he was motivated by. I don't know what he was thinking, but clearly he is a danger to society," Salame said.

Torres was wearing a hazardous materials uniform when police escorted him to the magistrate's office because his street clothes were being processed for DNA.

While Torres was only charged with capital murder initially, more charges are expected when the investigation is completed, Salame said.


About the Author:

David Ibañez has been managing editor of KSAT.com since the website's launch in October 2000.