SAN ANTONIO — A local man has been arrested in connection with a deadly shooting and kidnapping scheme that unfolded in August.
On Aug. 11, around 2:30 p.m., police found 44-year-old Antonio Sanchez dead in the street on Southlawn Avenue. The medical examiner later confirmed his death was a homicide.
Investigators say Sanchez had been lured to the area after suspects broke into a home belonging to people close to him. Armed with guns, the suspects assaulted those inside and used their phones to draw Sanchez to the location. Witnesses told police that one suspect, known as “Sleepy,” fired the fatal shots, while another, called “Chino,” threatened victims with a gun.
Surveillance video and a license plate led police to the suspects’ vehicle. One man was arrested while driving it on unrelated charges, and investigators seized his cell phone. Records from the phone showed calls to contacts saved as “Chino” and “lil bro” around the time of the murder.
Detectives later linked “Chino” to 23-year-old Marcos Villegas. On social media, Villegas had referred to one suspect as his brother and used the nickname “El Chino” while posting photos of a gun that matched descriptions from victims. A witness later identified him in a photo lineup, and investigators matched his phone number to records on his job application.
Villegas has been arrested on a charge of aggravated kidnapping. His bond is set at $250,000.