PEARSALL, Texas — Frio County Sheriff Pedro Salinas recalls the scene when deputies got a call about a shooting Friday just after 11 p.m.
“Family violence, domestic disturbance, things like that should never go unreported or minimized,” Salinas said. “Inevitably these things escalate and end up in tragic events like what we had here.”
On 816 County Road 1000, deputies found 25-year-old Felipe Ariza Jr. shot twice in the chest. His mother, Irene Peralta was found shot in the face.
Behind the barrel, investigators say, was Jose Alfredo Peralta.
This is how authorities say the night started.
“The siblings were out and received a call that their mother was possibly being assaulted at home. They decided to go check on their mom,” Salinas said.
That led to a confrontation where investigators say Peralta would pull out a gun and start firing at his stepson. Deputies say Irene attempted to help her son and that’s when she was also shot.
Investigators say Jose Alfredo Peralta surrendered without incident.
His stepson however, would succumb to his injuries at a San Antonio hospital.
“Anybody that would commit this type of violent crime in our community we will hold them accountable,” Salinas said.
Jose Alfredo Peralta is being held at the Frio County Jail on a $200,000 bond for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and a $1.3 million bond for murder.