Affidavit Reveals More on Double Homicide on Rio Grande

SAN ANGELO, TX – Affidavits released by Justice of the Peace Precincts 2 and 3 provided more details into the grisly murders of Jimmy Andrew Gonzales and Anthony Michael Martinez, both 28 years old, on Sept. 12, 2016.

According to the affidavit, San Angelo Police said that Krystal Nicole Lerma, 27, Ricky Ray Ortegon Zuniga and Justin Gamez “intentionally and knowingly [caused] the death of” Gonzales and Martinez.

On Sept. 12, 2016, San Angelo Police Officer Reeves was dispatched to the 1000 block of Rio Grande Street and found two males with gunshot wounds inside the residence.

SAPD Officer Roebuck went to Shannon Hospital when advised of the shooting to wait for the gunshot victims to arrive.

The first victim to arrive at the hospital was Gonzales, who was pronounced dead by medical personnel. Martinez arrived shortly thereafter, and was also pronounced dead by medical personnel, the affidavit said.

A witness at the scene told officials that he observed three men enter the residence on Rio Grande St. and heard fighting. He then heard gunshots and took cover inside his nearby residence until the shots stopped. That’s when he called police.

At the scene, Detective Michael P. Gaeta observed shell casings, and he obtained a positive identification of Martinez and Gonzales from their mothers.

The investigation led Gaeta to an interview with Zuniga. Zuniga was detained on Sept. 13 by SAPD officers and taken to the department. Gaeta believed Zuniga had been engaged in criminal activity based on information provided by a confidential informant.

Gaeta, at the station, advised Zuniga of his constitutional rights, or Miranda warning, and Zuniga indicated that he understood those rights. He then voluntarily waived those rights and provided a statement.

Zuniga said he, along with Raymond Alvarado, drove to Gonzales’ house on Rio Grande that night. Alvarado, the complaint said, told Zuniga he had intentions of stealing from Gonzales. Once the duo arrived, the two went inside and a fight ensued with Martinez. Sometime during the fight, Zuniga told police Alvarado brandished a firearm.

He asked Martinez “where his money was.” Shortly thereafter, Zuniga told police he heard gunfire and “got out of the house.

Zuniga said he went back to Gamez’s truck that the two arrived in. Alvarado then got into the backseat of the truck, and Gamez drove them away from the house. Zuniga told police Alvarado had killed both Martinez and Gonzales.

After that interview, Detective Gaeta met with Gamez, who was also detained and taken to SAPD. Gamez also waived his rights and police created an audio and video recording of his interview.

In his statement, Gamez said he drove back to the house, following Zuniga and Alvarado in another vehicle. Gamez claimed he remained in the truck when Zuniga and Alvarado went into the house. He said he heard arguing coming from the house. Then, after the shooting, Rick and Ray “got into his truck” and Gamez drove them away.

The investigation also led detectives to 27-year-old Lerma (also known with a last name of Sanchez). She too waived her rights and agreed to be interviewed by detectives. The interview was audio recorded and videotaped. Lerma stated that she personally heard from Alvarado that he wanted to rob Gonzales. She spoke to Alvarado by phone and informed him she was going to Gonzales' home on the night of Sept. 12.

Alvarado asked Lerma to call him when she got to the home, Lerma said. She admitted to police she knew the reason Alvarado wanted her to call him when she arrived, and that was because Alvarado wanted to rob Gonzales.

Lerma said she met with Gonzales in his home. On her way out the front door, she said she saw Alvarado rush into the house. She immediately ran to her black Suburban and drove away.

Surveillance video taken in the area confirms much of the testimony from the suspects, said the affidavits. On the video, police “observed a truck similar to Justin Gamez’s parked near the residence.”

Police report the video shows males exiting the truck and walking in the direction of the residence. A few moments later, three men returns to the truck and drive off at a high rate of speed.