Tom Green County Grand Jury Indicts Suspect in Brutal Stabbing Death of Marine at Downtown San Angelo Night Club

SAN ANGELO – A San Angelo man has been indicted by a Tom Green County grand jury for murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury in connection with the brutal murder of a U.S. Marine at Whiskey River Saloon in October.

Ray Vera has been indicted for the murder of the service member Bryce Rudisell and for the alleged stabbing of two other individuals.

According to court documents, officers responded to a stabbing call at Whiskey River Saloon, located at 125 East Concho Avenue. Investigators were informed that there were multiple stabbing victims who were triaged in the parking lot and taken to Shannon Medical Center for emergency medical treatment.

A Sergeant with the San Angelo Police Department informed the investigator that one of the victims, identified as Rudisell, succumbed to his injuries from being stabbed.

The owner of Whiskey River Saloon accessed video surveillance and the investigator saw a large fight occur inside the bar between several groups of people. The fight was broken up by staff, but another fight started outside.

Investigators saw on cellphone video that a victim walked between a black truck and another vehicle then saw a large Hispanic male lower his shoulder and thrust towards the victim. The Hispanic male, identified as Vera, was seen walking back from behind the truck with a knife in his hand. The victim could be seen walking away from the truck holding his chest.

In an interview, Vera allegedly stated that he was at Whiskey River Saloon the night of the stabbing incident and said he did not remember anything about the night because he was drinking alcohol. Vera allegedly also stated that he did not get in a fight and did not stab anyone.

Vera was arrested on October 2, 2022, and is currently an inmate at the Tom Green County Detention Facility and is being held on $1.225 million bond.