SAN ANTONIO – A man faced murder charges Monday night accused of shooting a man to death during an alleged drug deal back in February on the city's Northeast side.
San Antonio Police spokesman Doug Greene said tips from the public called into Crime Stoppers led investigators to the alleged gunman, 17-year-old Jonas Torres, and witnesses who filled in the blanks about what happened that night.
Torres did not answer any questions from reporters Monday night as he was led to a patrol car in handcuffs on his way to jail.
Greene said Torres wasn't very cooperative with detectives who tried to interview him after his arrest.
Torres was picked up around 5 p.m. by members of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Greene said thanks to those tips to Crime Stoppers investigators were able to figure out some details. They said the victim, 19-year-old Jose Chavez had agreed to meet Torres for a drug deal on Feb. 20.
Authorities believe Chavez was by himself and Torres had several people with him when they met up.
Instead of exchanging cash and drugs, they said Torres allegedly pulled out a gun and shot Chavez. Wounded, Chavez fled in his car but he didn't make it very far.
"Homicide detectives believe the shooting took place four blocks away, the victim attempted to drive away and then he lost consciousness and wrecked into a tree," Greene said. "We know there's some more people who know about this particular incident who haven't come forward yet to talk to us and we encourage them to do so."
Detectives are still actively working the case but at this point they believe Torres intended to rob Chavez and that's when things turned deadly.
Torres was booked on one count of murder. His bail was set at $200,000.