California Man Arrested Near Junction in Fatal Stabbing of San Antonio Restaurateur

JUNCTION, TX — A California man accused of fatally stabbing Edward “Ron” Acosta, founder of the Las Palapas Tex-Mex restaurant chain, was arrested Tuesday near Junction.

David Ruiz, 39, of Whittier, Calif., was taken into custody without incident by Kimble County deputies near the Segovia 66 Truck Stop off Interstate 10, according to the Kimble County Sheriff’s Office. Ruiz was booked into the Kimble County Jail on a murder warrant from Bexar County.

San Antonio Police Chief William McManus told reporters that officers found Acosta, 78, dead inside his home on Reata Trail in the Stone Oak area of San Antonio on Tuesday afternoon. McManus described the killing as a “high-profile” murder, according to KSAT-TV and the San Antonio Express-News.

Police said Acosta and Ruiz, who are relatives, were involved in an argument inside Acosta’s home before Ruiz allegedly stabbed him multiple times. A housekeeper discovered Acosta unresponsive in the garage, surrounded by blood, and called 911. Acosta was pronounced deceased at the scene.

An arrest affidavit obtained by the Express-News states that Ruiz drove from California to Texas, contacting Acosta’s son on Monday to say he was about two hours outside San Antonio. Ruiz initially stayed elsewhere overnight, but Acosta invited him to his home on Tuesday. A family group chat confirmed Ruiz’s arrival and mentioned plans for a gathering that day.

Police were dispatched after a report of an assault in progress. Acosta’s son later identified Ruiz as the suspect in a single-photo lineup and gave officers a description of Ruiz’s vehicle. Kimble County deputies located Ruiz traveling westbound on I-10 near Junction and performed the traffic stop that led to his arrest, the sheriff’s office said.

Ruiz is expected to be extradited to Bexar County to face the murder charge. Police recovered a knife at the scene, though a motive has not been disclosed.