UPDATE - 6/5/2023
The Nueces County Medical Examiner’s Office has identified the 15-year-old girl who was found in the road with severe injuries on Pennine Way near Slough Road.
According to the Medical Examiner, 15-year-old Eriya Ruiz died from multiple stab wounds.
CCPD states through their investigation, homicide investigators quickly identified a suspect and were able to determine that the parties were known to each other.
"Detectives secured a directive to apprehend a juvenile male in connection with the murder. On Saturday, June 3, 2023, an attorney for the juvenile male identified the whereabouts of the offender and arranged for the juvenile male to turn himself in," said officials in a release.
The juvenile male suspect was taken into custody without incident and has since been transported to the Nueces County Juvenile Justice Center.
Eriya's family has shared an official GoFundMe page where the community can send in monetary donations to assist during this difficult time. The family revealed there is another GoFundMe page circling social media but said it is inaccurate.
If you have any information about this murder, please call Corpus Christi Police Robbery & Homicide Detectives at (361) 886-2840. Anyone who would like to keep their identity secret and still provide information to Detectives should call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS (8477) or submit the tip online at https://www.p3tips.com/TipForm.aspx?ID=343&C=&T=.
UPDATE - 6/3/2023
The Corpus Christi Police Department has taken custody of a male juvenile believed to be connected to the murder of the young girl found injured on Pennine Way, according to the release.
CCPD detectives had established a connection between the two juveniles and were looking for the male suspect. An attorney representing the juvenile male was able to locate him and arranged to turn himself in, officials stated.
The juvenile male was taken into custody at about 11:51 a.m. on Saturday. There was no incident, and he has been transferred to the Nueces County Juvenile Justice Center.
ORIGINAL - 6/2/2023
The Corpus Christi Police Department is investigating the death of a young girl who was found injured on the city's South Side Friday morning.
Shortly after 3 a.m., officers and EMS were dispatched to a call for a girl who was seriously injured outside a home on the 3800 block of Pennine Way — near Rodd Field Road and Yorktown Boulevard.
The girl was transported to a local hospital, where she later died.
According to CCPD senior officer Antonio Contreras, officials are asking neighbors if they have any surveillance footage to review to figure out what happened to the girl.
Officials said they are investigating the girl's death as a homicide.
