Police searching for additional suspect in connection to deadly San Marcos shooting

AUSTIN (KXAN) — San Marcos police provided more details during a Sunday press conference on the deadly shooting that killed two people near San Antonio Street and Guadalupe Street.

In the Sunday update, police said it initially responded to reports of a stabbing around 1:30 a.m. at a bar near downtown San Marcos. Shortly after police arrived at the scene, SMPD chief Stan Standridge said two people were shot and four people were detained.

Police arrested 19-year-old Jermiah Jayden Tobias on Saturday night and charged with two counts of capital murder by terror threat/other felony, capital murder of multiple persons and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, according to Hays County online jail records. As of Sunday, Tobias’ bond was set at $1.65 million.

Standridge also asked for the public’s help to locate a second suspect, 19-year-old Avery Saul Bowman Jr., who is wanted for capital murder.

Police said that the two victims were shot in the head. Anthony Barrera, 24, was pronounced dead at the scene, and Alek Pacheco, 20, later died at the hospital. Additionally, a third victim who was “walking along east San Antonio Street” was grazed by a bullet, police said. He was treated and released, according to authorities. 

Police revealed through preliminary investigation that Barrera was dating a married woman, and her husband confronted him about the affair. According to police, the confrontation continued outside of the bar which led to a “fist fight." The husband will not be identified, police said. 

Two others joined the fight, police said, punching Barrera several times and ripping his necklace off. Standridge said Bowman was the one who ripped Barrera's necklace off. The other person was not identified by police.

Standridge said while Barrera was fighting Bowman, Tobias got involved and shot a handgun that police believed had an altered trigger to allow for automatic gunfire. About eight shots were fired, hitting the three victims, according to police.

Police used two SWAT teams to execute the search and arrest warrants for Tobias and Bowman, Standridge said. Neighbors told Tobias about the authorities, and he ran away from the scene. He was later picked up by a family member and eventually surrendered Saturday to the Hays County Jail.

This isn't the first time he has had a run-in with the police, Standridge said. Tobias was currently out on bond for unlawfully carrying weapon and possession of a controlled substance charges following his release on July 5.

Attorney information was not available for Tobias. We will update this if that changes.

None of the suspects and victims involved in this incident have familial relations, according to police. 

Additionally, police are searching to identify a witness who may have recorded the fight and shooting. The photo of the unknown witness from SMPD is below.