Federal Law Enforcement Called In to Investigate U.S. Marine's Stabbing Death in San Angelo

SAN ANGELO, TX – Goodfellow Air Force Base said the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, or NCIS, has been activated to assist local law enforcement with the investigation of a stabbing death of a U.S. Marine at a popular downtown San Angelo bar.

Within the Department of the Navy, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service is the civilian federal law enforcement agency uniquely responsible for investigating felony crime, preventing terrorism and protecting secrets for the Navy and Marine Corps. The impact of an NCIS can be far reaching. This is a civilian-ran agency and is headed by a civilian law enforcement professional who reports directly to the Secretary of the Navy.

As previously reported, on Oct. 2, a fight broke out outside of the San Angelo bar called the Whiskey River Saloon at 125 E. Concho Ave.  During the fight, multiple victims — all of them assigned to Goodfellow AFB — were stabbed. One of those men was a U.S. Marine who later died from his injuries.

The identity of the Marine has still not been released. The suspect, Ray Vera, 40, of San Angelo, has been charged with Murder and sites in the Tom Green County Detention Center on a bond set at over $1 million.

The following is the full statement from Goodfellow AF: 

"A Marine assigned to Goodfellow AFB died Oct. 2 following an altercation in San Angelo, Texas. The other victims of the altercation were also service members assigned to Goodfellow.

"The Marine's name is being withheld until 24 hours after next-of-kin notification. Goodfellow is actively coordinating with local law enforcement and Naval Criminal Investigative Service. 

"The investigation is ongoing, for any investigation-related queries please contact San Angelo Police Department."