Once-deported Hispanic man charged with Plum Grove murder


Posted: Monday, June 27, 2016 9:40 am Staff Report

A Hispanic man once deported from the U.S. is now facing a murder charge in Liberty County, Texas.

A dispute over a weed-whacker is said to be the motive of the fatal shooting of 45-year-old Vincente Rodriguez in the early morning hours of Sunday, June 26, in the Plum Grove neighborhood of Bella Vista, according to the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office.

Rodriguez was shot several times in his front yard after he reportedly was lured outside by his burning vehicle.

Sgt. Paul Lasco, who is investigating the crime for the sheriff’s office, was told by Coreena Rodriguez, wife of the victim, that she and her husband were awakened by someone pounding on their front door.

“When she answered the door, a Hispanic male asked her about buying a lawnmower that was for sale. Mrs. Rodriguez, knowing they had no lawnmower for sale, immediately saw their family van on fire sitting in their front yard,” said Capt. Ken DeFoor, spokesperson for the sheriff’s office. “She called her husband, who gave her a fire extinguisher to start putting out the fire while he filled a large water bottle. As Vincente Rodriguez ran outside, a second unknown Hispanic male appeared from the darkness and began shooting [him] multiple times.”

A day later, law enforcement has a suspect and the alleged murder weapon in custody. The arrest of Melvin Morales-Rivas around 2:30 a.m. Monday, June 27, came when Rivas surrendered himself at the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office.

The case began to unfold Sunday evening when another man and Morale-Rivas’ business partner in a small yard care service, Erwin Antonio Donis-Morales, 40, showed up at the sheriff’s office to explain that he was with Morales-Rivas at the time of the shooting.

“Donis-Morales brought his own 40-caliber semi-automatic pistol with him and turned it over to investigators, saying this was the gun used in the shooting. A statement was taken from Donis-Morales regarding his part in this shooting and a warrant was then issued for Melvin Morales-Rivas,” said DeFoor. “During the course of the initial investigation, Sgt. Lasco, in interviewing Mrs. Rodriguez, was told about a weed-eater grass-cutting machine that Vincente Rodriguez told his wife he had found alongside of the highway, and he had picked it up and brought it home.”

Donis-Morales and Morales-Rivas allegedly planned to go to Rodriguez’s home to confront him about their missing weed-whacker, the report continues.

“According to Donis-Morales, they only planned to go to the home of Rodriguez to talk to him about the weed eater and try to get him to return it. Upon arrival at Rodriguez’s home, it is alleged by Donis-Morales, who has a concealed handgun license, that he left his 40-caliber semi-automatic pistol on his car seat when he went up to the door to talk to Rodriguez,” DeFoor said.

Donis-Morales is alleging that Morales-Rivas took the pistol from his car and used it to shoot Rodriguez.

“Again, according to Donis-Morales, both the vehicle fire and the shooting came as a total surprise to him as none of this type [of] reprisal was talked about or discussed prior to the arrival at the Rodriguez home,” DeFoor said.

At this time Donis-Morales has not been charged with the crime. Morales-Rivas is charged with murder. Due to a language barrier, the sheriff’s office reportedly used an interpreter to communicate with Morales-Rivas, who is said to have refused to admit to the shooting and requested an attorney.

“...Due to the fact that he has been deported one time from the United States and when he reentered the U.S. is unknown, he also has a hold on him for Immigration [and Customs Enforcement],” said DeFoor. “The investigation is continuing and it will be determined at a later date if additional charges such as arson for the burning of the vehicle will be included.”

Morales-Rivas’ mug shot and country of origin were not available at press time.

Once-deported Hispanic man charged with Plum Grove murder