NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, Texas — Police in North Richland Hills say a "juvenile feud" is to blame for the fatal shooting of an innocent man last week and that the three suspects in the drive-by shooting will all be charged as adults with murder.
North Richland Hills Police confirmed to WFAA that 17, 18, and 19-year-old suspects are in custody. Late Monday afternoon police identified two of the suspects, Martin Mauricio Marquez Diaz, 18, and Anthony Zapata, 19.
They are accused of firing into the home of 52-year-old Brian Pence on Stonybrooke Drive in North Richland Hills last Wednesday night. Police say the teens got the address wrong and fired at Pence's home by mistake. A bullet pierced a bedroom window and hit Pence while he was in bed. He died later that night at a hospital. Police have not revealed the nature of the juvenile dispute or which home the trio intended to target.
"Nothing ever happens on our street," neighbor Robin Moran told WFAA, admitting that they are on edge now that something horrible has happened.
"I'm scared. I'm uneasy. Very uneasy," Moran said.
North Richland Hills police say that surveillance video in the neighborhood and cooperation from neighbors helped them apprehend the suspects quickly. All of the suspects are from Fort Worth. Two were arrested on Saturday. The third was arrested on Sunday.
"All three were involved in the murder of Mr. Pence," said NRH Police Spokesperson Sarah Chilutti. "There's no direct type of way to explain it other than it just seemed like a juvenile feud that sadly resulted in the worst-case scenario."
A worst-case scenario that has the victim's family asking for privacy. A person who answered the door at the Pence home Monday morning said they did not wish to speak with the media.