Robstown Drive-By Killing: Minor Charged

Robstown police charged a 14-year-old with murder in the shooting death of Shawn Sanchez, also 14. The case has deeply shaken the community. Investigators said the juvenile, whose name is withheld due to age, is among three suspects in the Nov. 18 drive-by shooting at Figueroa Square Apartments.

At the time of the shooting, authorities were already holding the minor at the Nueces County Juvenile Justice Center on unrelated charges. Police took him into custody that day on a possession charge. As the investigation progressed, detectives issued a directive to apprehend him on a murder charge while he remained in custody.

In addition to the juvenile suspect, police have charged 18-year-old Elias Eric Rivera and 22-year-old Dominic Guzman with murder in Sanchez’s death. According to investigators, Rivera is alleged to have known Sanchez personally, while Guzman’s relationship to Sanchez is still being determined. Evidence indicates all three suspects acted together during the shooting.

Police arrested Rivera on Nov. 18, the day of the killing; Guzman was taken into custody three days later. All three suspects now face murder charges as the case moves forward.

According to Robstown police, officers responded to reports of gunfire at about 3:50 p.m. on Nov. 18. When officers arrived at the Figueroa Square Apartments on Ruben Chavez Road, they found Sanchez suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Someone had shot him six times, and he died from his injuries. The investigation unfolded, and police determined that Sanchez had gone to the apartment complex to visit his girlfriend. Initially, investigators believed Rivera, who was acquainted with Sanchez, had lured him outside using a phone call or text message. However, detectives later concluded that the juvenile suspect, described as Sanchez’s friend, was the one who contacted him and drew him outside. Investigators have not yet clarified whether Guzman knew Sanchez before the shooting.

Once Sanchez stepped outdoors, Rivera drove a silver pickup truck up to the apartment. Police say Rivera, Guzman, and the juvenile suspect then exited the vehicle and confronted Sanchez. Moments later, at least two suspects opened fire.

That nigThat night, investigators obtained a warrant and searched the silver truck involved in the shooting. Police recovered two pistols, two AR-platform rifles, shell casings, and multiple slugs during the search. Officers collected one intact slug for forensic testing. Authorities confirmed they secured both firearms used in the shooting. The weapons and ballistic evidence are central to ongoing forensic analysis.

As the case developed, investigators began examining whether the killing was an act of retaliation. Robstown police believe Rivera may have targeted Sanchez in response to a separate shooting two days earlier, on Nov. 16. That incident left a 16-year-old boy injured after someone shot him three times in the 700 block of West Avenue C. Police arrested a suspect in that case and later determined that Sanchez knew the individual involved. Detectives have identified Salvador Hernandez as a suspect in the Nov. 16 shooting. Investigators working to connect the two incidents emphasize that the inquiry is still active. Authorities say they are still searching for one more assailant believed to have participated in Sanchez’s killing.

Although police have charged three suspects, the case remains far from over. Detectives continue to analyze forensic evidence, interview witnesses, and follow leads related to the shooting. Because one suspect is a juvenile, court officials will apply different legal standards to proceedings and records. The order charge against the 14-year-old highlights the seriousness of the allegations and the tragic loss of life. As the investigation moves forward, Robstown police say they remain committed to pursuing accountability. They also aim to deliver answers to Sanchez’s family and the community.