A man “looking like a ‘reptile’ due to tattoos covering his face” wore makeup and a wig when he allegedly shot a Pharr man multiple times, which eventually led to that man’s death.
McAllen resident Jayson Martinez Gonzalez, 35, is accused of murdering Jesus Javier Sanchez, 36, who later died from injuries he received on Dec. 20.
Gonzalez’s co-defendant is 46-year-old Edinburg resident Reinaldo Rafael Sanchez Jr., who is also charged with murder.
Both men were indicted this month.
According to a probable cause affidavit, McAllen police responded to a residence in the 1900 block of Oakland Avenue in reference to an aggravated assault where a man was shot multiple times and wasn’t responsive.
At the scene, police made contact with Marlene Natalia Rodriguez who stated she was asleep with Sanchez when she heard gunshots and found him unresponsive on the ground and bleeding.
She told police she saw a white vehicle leave the location.
One resident described the perpetrator to police.
“A resident in the area heard three loud pops and observed a light complected skinny male, with light brown hair, black pants and a black jacket walking west bound on Oakland Avenue from where the incident occurred,” the affidavit said.
Detectives then responded to Reinaldo’s residence in Alton where contact with his girlfriend, Laura Saenz, was made. She stated that Reinaldo was with a male friend earlier that day and described him as looking like a “reptile” due to his face tattoos.
“Laura stated Reinaldo left in a hurry and told her that his name was being thrown in the mix in reference to what happened to Jesus,” the affidavit said.
Gonzalez was later located by police and said he was with Reinaldo inside his white Nissan Altima at all hours in the morning.
On Dec. 21, police interviewed Reinaldo who said he saw a woman shoot Sanchez multiple times and described her appearance.
Detectives then responded to Reinaldo’s residence in Alton where contact with his girlfriend, Laura Saenz, was made. She stated that Reinaldo was with a male friend earlier that day and described him as looking like a “reptile” due to his face tattoos.
However, detectives managed to locate surveillance camera footage in the area prior to and after the incident and confronted Gonzalez with the images obtained.
“Jayson provided details about the crime scene that only an individual that was there would know,” the affidavit said. “Jayson admitted to wearing face makeup and a wig to show the facial features of a woman the day of the incident.
“Jayson admitted to being the individual walking towards Jesus’ residence as shown on surveillance footage.”
However, Gonzalez told police that he saw Reinaldo shoot Sanchez multiple times with a handgun.
When detectives attempted to speak to Reinaldo again, he asked for an attorney.
It isn’t immediately known when Sanchez died from his injuries.
Gonzalez was indicted on March 16, months after his aggravated assault arrest. He’s scheduled to be arraigned on the indictment next week. Reinaldo was indicted on March 17.
Reinaldo was in custody for a few days before being released on $90,000 in bonds on Dec. 29 for the offense of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Gonzalez remains jailed on $127,000 in bonds.
Both men were booked on Dec. 23, jail records show.
