CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Port Aransas Police Department officers arrested the suspect in a shooting that killed 22-year-old Ingleside resident Kristopher Welder on the beach over Spring Break.
Francisco Espinoza was arrested before 2 p.m. Thursday in the 600 block of Deloris Street in Taft, police chief Scott Burroughs stated in a news release.
Espinoza is charged with first-degree felony murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after also reportedly shooting a 19-year-old Alice man that night.
His bond is set at $750,000 for the murder, and $250,000 for the lesser charge. He currently is in the San Patricio County Jail.
Port Aransas issued a warrant for Espinoza's arrest March 17, six days after the shootings, and had been searching for him since then.
The arrest warrant was executed by the PAPD, as well as US Marshal Service, Texas Department of Public Safety Troopers, San Patricio County Sheriff's deputies and CCPD officers.
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