EL PASO, Texas – Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect wanted for murder in Kansas.
On March 28, U.S. Border Patrol Agents in the El Paso Sector arrested a U.S. citizen wanted for murder in Wichita.
The El Paso Station Border Patrol Agent encountered an individual walking along the south side of the Border Barrier near Fonseca Drive and Cesar E. Chavez/Border Highway, according to a media release from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
When agents questioned the individual as to his citizenship, the man stated that he was a U.S. citizen and that he had just entered the United States from Mexico, illegally, by attempting to drive his truck across the Rio Grande.
The individual, later identified as 25-year-old Patricio Gomez, was taken into custody, for the illegal entry, and transported to the station for further investigation. Record checks revealed that he had an extensive criminal history and an active warrant out of Wichita, Kansas, for murder.
Gomez was remanded to the custody of the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office waiting to be extradited to Wichita.
On October 1, Wichita police issued an alert in an attempt to locate Gomez.
Just before 6:30p.m. Sept. 30, 2021. officers responded to a shooting call at a hotel in the 9400 block of East Corporate Hills. Upon arrival, officers located 42-year-old Michael Martinez who had been shot. He was pronounced deceased on the scene.
The investigation revealed Patricio along with a woman arrived at the hotel regarding an illegal drug transaction. During the transaction, a disturbance ensued and Gomez fired multiple shots at Martinez, striking him. Gomez and the woman fled the scene in a black Cadillac Escalade.
Police located the Cadillac outside of a hotel in Park City.