News
22-year-old Kristopher Wayne Welder killed in shooting at Port Aransas beach
Authorities continue to seek a suspect described as a heavy-set, light-complexioned Hispanic male.
Update: The 22-year-old individual who tragically succumbed to a gunshot wound to the chest on a Port Aransas beach Tuesday morning has been identified.
Port Aransas Police Chief Kristopher Wayne confirmed that the victim was Welder.
Authorities continue to seek a suspect described as a heavy-set, light-complexioned Hispanic male, who was last observed driving a gray or silver vehicle, suspected to be a newer model BMW with dark rims.
Original Report:
A fatal shooting occurred at a Port Aransas beach, resulting in the death of one man and the hospitalization of another.
As detailed in a press release from the Port Aransas Police Department, the incident took place just before midnight while officers from the Port Aransas Police and deputies from Nueces County Constable Precinct 4 were in the process of dispersing a large crowd near Marker 42 on Tuesday morning.
Upon hearing gunshots in the vicinity, the crowd scattered. Upon investigation, officers discovered a white male, later identified as a 22-year-old resident of Ingleside, who had sustained a gunshot wound to the chest.
Immediate first aid measures were initiated by the officers. Approximately six minutes later, a 911 call reported gunfire near Marker 27, adjacent to Beach Access Road 1.
Subsequently, officers located a 19-year-old individual from Alice who had been shot in the abdomen. Although he had initially been shot near Marker 42, he was transported by a friend to Marker 27.
Both victims were transported to Corpus Christi Medical Center’s Bay Area Hospital in Corpus Christi. Unfortunately, the Ingleside man succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the hospital.
As of Tuesday morning, the Alice man was undergoing surgery and is anticipated to recover. According to the press release, the information provided is preliminary.
Investigators suspect that there was a prior acquaintance between the suspect and the victim from Ingleside, but it remains uncertain whether the victim from Alice had any connection to the suspect.
The suspect is described as a heavy-set, light-complexioned white Hispanic male, last seen driving a gray or silver vehicle believed to be a newer model BMW with dark rims.
