MATHIS, Texas — UPDATE: August 10, at 3 p.m.
Mathis Police have a suspect in the murder of a 21-year-old man who was shot to death on August 7.
The shooting took place in the 400 block of Texas Avenue in Mathis. Police say 21-year-old Maximiliano Lara was sitting inside his pick up truck when he was shot.
Lara quickly ran away, but collapsed in the yard of a house across the street. The gunman fled the scene but the Mathis Police Chief said they now believe they know who pulled the trigger and expect an arrest in this case at any moment.
A Texas Ranger is helping with the investigation and U.S. Marshals are working on tracking down the suspect in that City’s first murder case of 2020.
Friday, August 7
Mathis police were called to the 400 block of Texas St. after a caller reported hearing a car crash just after 12 a.m. on Friday.
Upon arrival, officers discovered a pickup truck parked along the roadway with both doors open and no visible signs of a car crash.
Officers began searching inside the truck and found a 21-year-old Mathis man lying in a yard across the way from where the truck was found.
According to police officers, the 21-year-old man suffered a gunshot and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators found shell casings on the passenger side of the pickup truck and say a handgun was used in Friday morning's shooting. According to police, the truck found did belong to the victim.
Police believe after the shooting, both the victim and the shooter ran on the side of Texas St. but will continue the investigation to determine the cause.
Police Chief Scott Roush says this is the first murder of the year in Mathis.
Officials say U.S. Marshals are on standby to help locate a suspect, and investigators are aiming to make an arrest in this case very soon.
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