Antonio Cruz, a 35-year-old Hispanic man, was one of five people fatally shot on November 13, 1997, at an apartment in Channelview, Texas. The shooter, Coy Wayne Wesbrook, a former security guard, arrived intending to reconcile with his ex-wife, Gloria Jean Coons, and encountered her with four others including Cruz. Wesbrook testified he was provoked, said he was taunted and had a beer thrown at him, and that Cruz had taken his keys and prevented him from leaving. He left, retrieved a hunting rifle from his truck, returned and within about 40 seconds shot all five people present.

Neighbors reported hearing five quick shots and saw Wesbrook waiting calmly for authorities with the rifle. Wesbrook was arrested, convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death in 1998. The case proceeded through appeals; the U.S. Supreme Court declined to review it and Wesbrook was executed by lethal injection on March 9, 2016.

Does anyone have information about Antonio Cruz’s life or connections in Channelview that could add context to his presence that night?