Melvin Adalberto Morales-Rivas was charged in the Liberty County shooting death of Vincente Rodriguez
By Dale Lezon
Houston Chronicle
June 27, 2016
A suspect was arrested early Monday, a day after the fatal shooting of a 45-year-old man in a dispute about a weed trimmer at his home in north Liberty County.
Melvin Adalberto Morales-Rivas, 28, is charged with murder in the slaying of Vincente Rodriquez about 12:10 a.m. Sunday in the 500 block of Road 3405 in the Bella Vista subdivision, according to the Liberty County Sheriff's Office.
Deputies said Rodriguez brought home a weed trimmer that he told his wife he had found on the side of the road. Investigators later learned that the weed trimmer apparently belonged to Morales-Rivas and his partner, who have a lawn-care business together.
Morales-Rivas' partner, who has not been charged in the case, told investigators he and Morales-Rivas went to talk to Rodriguez at his home about getting the machine back. While they were speaking with Rodriguez's wife, Rodriguez's van burst into flames. When Rodriguez ran outside the house to put out the fire, deputies said, Morales-Rivas shot him several times, fatally wounding him.
Deputies said Rodriguez apparently was lured outside with the burning van.
Morales-Rivas and his partner left after the shooting.
The partner later told investigators he had a license to carry a concealed weapon, but had left his gun in his car while he and Morales-Rivas went to Rodriguez's front door. The man told investigators he believed Morales-Rivas grabbed the gun and shot Rodriguez.
Morales-Rivas surrendered to deputies after a warrant was issued for his arrest in the case.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Shucks, this ain’t no big deal. This is just how we deal with a thieving varmint in the wild west state of Texas.
1 comment:
At least the shooting wasn't over something trivial.
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