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Police: Suspect wanted for killing man in Balch Springs turns himself in; father arrested for alleged evidence tampering

John Rivera was wanted in the July shooting death of Bertin Albarran, police said. His father was later arrested on charges of evidence tampering in the case.

BALCH SPRINGS, Texas — Editor's note: The above video aired when law enforcement was searching for Rivera. 

A suspect wanted in connection with the fatal shooting of a 39-year-old man in Balch Springs turned himself into authorities on Friday, Oct. 13, the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) told WFAA. 

John Rivera, 22, was wanted in the July 2023 shooting death of Bertin Albarran.

According to Balch Springs Police Department, on July 2, officers were called to the 11300 block of Lake June Road after a caller claimed a man was shot and left in the middle of the road, and that the suspect fled in a red Chevy Camaro.

When officers arrived at the scene, they found the victim, Albarran, dead from his injuries. 

Hours later, detectives discovered the vehicle described in the initial call, as well as the victim’s cellphone. 

Detectives also obtained security footage from a business located near the shooting, which police said showed the suspect in the driver’s seat of the Camero, and Albarran stepping out of the passenger seat in the middle of Lake June Road. Police said the video then shows Albarran being shot multiple times while standing outside of the vehicle, and the suspect fleeing the scene. 

Police said that, after interviewing witnesses and going through Albarran’s cellphone, Rivera was identified as the suspect in Albarran's death. Rivera and Albarran had attended at a house party together earlier in the night, prior to the fatal shooting, police said. 

A murder arrest warrant was issued by the Balch Springs Police Department for Rivera in September. 

The Balch Springs Police Department told WFAA that Rivera turned himself into DCSO on Friday, Oct. 13, while being accompanied by his attorney. 

At the time of Rivera's arrest, Balch Springs police said they were still looking to arrest his father, Juan Rivera, on charges of tampering with evidence in his son's case. 

About a week and a half later, Balch Springs police announced that the U.S. Marshals North Texas Fugitive Task Force had apprehended Juan Rivera, and that he was booked into Balch Springs Police Department City Jail on Tuesday, Oct. 24. 

WFAA spoke with Albarran's sisters following both arrests.

 "It’s hard… it’s hard to wrap your mind around this... He didn’t deserve this," said Marfelia Castillo. 

Speaking of John Rivera's family, Albarran's sister Consuelo Silva told WFAA, "they will never suffer the way we have because his son is alive."

"They can get a phone call, they can hear a voice, go visit him," she continued. "And where do we go? To the cemetery… where we don’t get a voice back."

Albarran, they said, leaves behind six kids, three sisters, two brothers and his 71-year-old mother.  

 

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