Two arrested in Muleshoe shooting

Two Muleshoe men were arrested Monday night and charged with murder in the shooting death of a 19-year-old Muleshoe man.

Law enforcement officials offered few details about the case, citing a possibility of more suspects.

Daniel Mendoza, 20, and Michael Garcia, 25, were in custody shortly after 6 p.m. (CDT), Muleshoe Police Chief Brian Frieda said.

“We managed to round them up just about as fast as we got the warrants issued,” he said Monday night.

The pair are charged in connection with the July 4 shooting death of Rolando Sauceda, he said.

Frieda declined to discuss which of the men was suspected as being the shooter or what the motive might be in the case, citing the ongoing investigation.

“We are still sorting out some of the other details. We know these two were involved (but) we’re still following up some leads that there may be some potential for other suspects,” he said.

Police have said they responded to a residential area in the 500 block of West Avenue B just after 4 a.m. July 4 for a report of shots fired and found the wounded Sauceda outside.

He was pronounced dead at Muleshoe Area Medical Center from a single gunshot wound.

The Texas Rangers are assisting in the investigation.

Frieda said the case is still developing. “If there’s anybody out there that has information that we may need to help clarify things, (we welcome it),” he said.

Parmer and Bailey County Crime Stoppers are offering up to $1,000 in reward money for information leading to arrests in the case and can be reached at 800-774-8477 or 806-481-9178.