One person of interest is in custody after a traffic stop in connection to a homicide that happened in the early morning hours Thursday in the 2200 block of Richmond Street.
Officers first responded around 12:45 a.m. Thursday in reference to a gunshot victim, Odessa Police Department Spokesman Steve LeSueur said, and the victim was found to have been shot once in the chest.
An OPD news release stated the victim, 26-year-old Ryan Stebbins, was shot in the chest by the suspect, who was trying to steal Stebbins’ work vehicle. The suspect fled the scene in Stebbins’ work vehicle, which was later found by OPD abandoned around 1:30 a.m. in the 4300 block of Westcliff Road.
Stebbins was transported to Medical Center Hospital where he was pronounced deceased, LeSueur said, and next of kin has been notified.
No one has been named a suspect in the investigation at this time, but a person of interest in the investigation was apprehended Thursday morning near Kermit Highway and FM 866.
The person of interest, 36-year-old Johnny Ray Aguirre, was apprehended during a traffic stop around 10 a.m. Thursday in relation to a warrant for a charge of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. Officers initiated the traffic stop due to Aguirre driving a vehicle reported stolen. LeSueur said that the stolen vehicle did not belong to Stebbins.
OPD was out at the scene investigating with their mobile crime lab and the stolen vehicle was impounded.
Aguirre has been charged with unauthorized use of a stolen vehicle and he is in custody at this time, LeSueur said.
There are currently no suspects in the investigation. Police are asking anyone with information regarding the investigation to call the Odessa Police Department at 432-333-3641 or Odessa Crime Stoppers at 432-333-TIPS.
PREVIOUS VERSION: Police are investigating a homicide that occurred overnight in the 2200 block of Richmond Street.
Officers first responded around 12:45 a.m. Thursday in reference to a gunshot victim, Odessa Police Department Spokesman Steve LeSueur said, but the exact cause of death is still under investigation.
Upon arrival, the victim was transported to Medical Center Hospital where he was pronounced dead, LeSueur said.
The victim has been identified, but their name has not been released as the next of kin has not yet been notified.
At this time, no arrests have been made and the homicide is still under investigation.
