Murder Trial Underway in Tom Green County Courthouse

SAN ANGELO, Texas – The man accused of stabbing a U.S. Marine to death outside a downtown San Angelo bar in 2022 will stand trial for murder in San Angelo beginning April 1, 2024.  

According to the court docket. Ray Vera, 41, is accused of stabbing Bryce Rudisell in the chest.  Rudisell later died at Shannon Medical Center.  Vera is charged with Murder. 

As we reported the day of the murder, Vera and Rudisell were at Whiskey River Saloon the night of Oct. 2, 2022.  Police reports indicate a fight started on the dance floor of the bar between a group of bikers and a group of active duty military members.  

According to court documents, officers from the San Angelo Police Department responded to reports of stabbings at a downtown bar early on Oct. 2. The incident, which occurred around 1 a.m. at the Whiskey River Saloon located at 125 E. Concho, resulted in multiple injuries.

Upon arrival, law enforcement personnel were informed by witnesses that a fight had erupted inside the bar between two groups, later spilling out into the parking lot. The officers' immediate priority was to provide aid to the stabbing victims until paramedics arrived.

The victims, including Bryce Rudisell, were transported to Shannon Downtown for treatment. Regrettably, Rudisell succumbed to his injuries at the emergency room.

During the investigation, authorities met with the bar's owner, Richard Hayslip, and manager to gather information. Hayslip recounted the altercation, stating that it began inside the establishment and escalated onto the dance floor before being broken up by staff.

Surveillance footage corroborated the sequence of events, capturing the altercation and subsequent movements of those involved. Rudisell, identified as a victim, was observed rejoining the confrontation in the parking lot.

Further examination of the footage revealed a confrontation between Rudisell and a Hispanic male, later identified as Ray Vera, who was seen wielding a knife. Witness statements also implicated Vera in the stabbing.

Receipts from the bar indicated Vera's presence at the establishment prior to the incident. However, Vera denied involvement in the altercation, attributing his lack of recollection to alcohol consumption.

It was later revealed that the victims were active duty U.S. military personnel from Goodfellow Air Force Base, while Vera is purportedly associated with a motorcycle gang, the Jinetes Motorcycle Club, allegedly affiliated with the Banditos. Vera, known by the call sign "Bravo," faces charges of murder and other offenses.

Vera was jailed on  $1,002,409 bond.  

Vera is charged with one count of Murder, two counts of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon and one count of Aggravated Assault Causing Serious Bodily Injury.  

Jury selection is expected to take all day Monday, April 1, 2024 in Courtroom A of the Tom Green County Courthouse.  Testimony is scheduled to begin Tuesday and the trial should last eight to ten days.