On October 3, 2023, at about 2:47 a.m., 19-year-old Michael Torres Jr. was fatally shot in the 2300 block of East Stewart Street in Laredo, Texas. Officers arriving at the scene found Torres with apparent gunshot wounds and first responders pronounced him dead at the scene. Preliminary investigation indicated Torres had just arrived in his vehicle when he was targeted, suggesting he was deliberately attacked rather than the victim of a random act.

In the days after the shooting investigators identified multiple suspects. On October 10 a white Chevy Trax believed to be involved was located and 21-year-old Mauro Azahel Perales was arrested and charged with murder, engaging in organized criminal activity, and tampering with evidence. Search warrants executed October 11 led to the arrest of 21-year-old Sheldon Javier Gonzalez-Santiago, who faced charges including murder, engaging in organized criminal activity, and manufacture and delivery of controlled substances.

Investigators linked the group to other noninjury shootings in Laredo on September 15 and October 1, 2023, indicating a pattern of violent activity. Torres had previously been on the Laredo Crime Stoppers most wanted list in May 2023 for an aggravated assault where he allegedly fired shots; he was arrested and released on bond that month. Does anyone have information about the events around East Stewart Street that night or about the earlier shootings tied to this group?