A Texas teenager has been arrested for the murder of his stepfather after an altercation at a family gathering turned violent. The incident occurred on January 12, when 19-year-old Raymundo Morales allegedly stabbed his stepfather, Angel Martin Herrera, 40, during a heated argument. The altercation escalated after Morales reportedly assaulted a woman at the gathering, which led to a confrontation with Herrera.
According to witnesses, the evening involved heavy drinking, and Morales became enraged after a disagreement with a female guest. He allegedly choked and hit her, prompting Herrera to intervene and confront him. This led to a verbal dispute between the two men. Initially, police were called to the scene around 3:30 a.m. to respond to the argument, but when officers arrived, they found no one injured and left the scene.
However, less than 30 minutes later, a second call was made, reporting a stabbing at the same address. Upon returning to the home, officers discovered Herrera unresponsive and found that he had been stabbed in the neck. Morales’ mother, who was at the scene, initially claimed responsibility for the stabbing, telling police that she had wielded the knife. However, several witnesses contradicted her statement, identifying Morales as the attacker. She later recanted her confession.
When questioned by police, Morales reportedly admitted to killing his stepfather. He told authorities, “I killed my stepdad,” and explained that he had attacked Herrera after the latter allegedly pushed his mother. Despite Morales’ claim, witnesses stated that they had not seen Herrera assault anyone during the gathering.
The police investigation revealed that the argument between Morales and Herrera had escalated quickly, leading to the fatal stabbing. Morales’ mother’s attempt to take the blame was an apparent attempt to protect her son, but Morales refused to let her take responsibility for the crime. He acknowledged his mother’s initial false confession but insisted that he was the one who had killed Herrera.
Herrera was rushed to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Morales was arrested and charged with one count of murder and one count of assaulting a family member by impeding their breath. He is being held in custody at the El Paso County Detention Facility on a $700,000 bond. His next court appearance is scheduled for January 17.
The tragic incident has left the family and the community reeling. The details of the altercation and the events leading up to the stabbing paint a grim picture of a violent and tragic family dispute. As the investigation continues, the circumstances surrounding the death of Angel Martin Herrera remain under scrutiny.
