Local authorities now say they do not believe two recent deadly home invasions are related.
Two officers are on paid leave this morning after one home invasion suspect was fatally shot by police as he was leaving an apartment on the 2300 block of Capitan Drive on Tuesday night.
According to police, responding officers confronted the robbers as they were leaving an apartment. 34-year-old Adan Rene Marrero was shot by officers and died at the scene.
Another man, 25-year-old Michael Guzman was arrested by CCPD, and charged with Burglary with Intent to Commit another Felony, Possession of Marijuana, Outstanding Warrant, Failure to Identify as a Fugitive, Giving False ID and Evading Arrest. At least one other suspect got away.
On Monday, officials responded to a double-homicide on the 2500 block of Balchuck Lane, in London Estates. Officials with the Nueces County Sheriff’s Office said the call originally came in as a possible murder-suicide, but an investigation led them to believe this was a home invasion. The deceased were identified as 39-year-old Arturo Mario Lopez and 38-year-old Miriam Lopez.
Authorities now say they are looking for four persons-of-interest in this case.
CCPD Chief Mike Markle recognizes a disturbing trend, more home invasions ending with someone injured or dead.
"We are seeing an up-tick in these home invasions," said Markle.
"It doesn’t appear that any of them are related to each other, they’re all individual events," said Lt. John Hooper, CCPD Public Information Officer. "They all have their own elements and very specific aspects."
There is, however, one common thread in a number of home invasions.
"Almost all these cases are drug related," said Hooper. "They are not random acts, they are targeted events."
So should you be concerned?
"Unless you have lifestyle in the drug culture, it’s not a high risk for you," said Hooper. "It’s not likely to happen to the average citizen here in Corpus Christi."
