Tyler business owner arrested after fatal shooting of teen

SMITH COUNTY, Texas (KLTV) – A Tyler man is in jail after an occupant of a truck passing by a business Thursday night was fatally shot.

Authorities were called to a fatal shooting in the 3700 block of Highway 271 North at about 10:45 p.m., according to Smith County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Larry Christian.

According to a later release from the office, the victim, identified as Rawly Sanchez, 19, was pronounced dead at CHRISTUS ER in Tyler after sustaining a gunshot wound to the head.

While investigating at the crime scene, officials were told that three people were traveling in a truck on Hwy 271 before turning around at a dead end, the release said.

They drove behind Bautista Auto Sales, the release said, and as they passed they heard several gunshots. Soon after, the front seat occupants realized that the back seat passenger, Sanchez, had been shot in the back of the head. The two occupants immediately drove to CHRISTUS in Tyler.

Investigators later made contact with the owner of the auto shop, Seferino Bautista-Renteria, of Tyler, 35, at his home and detained him. The arrest was made after gathering enough information to consider Renteria a suspect, they said, and search warrants for the home and business were obtained and executed.

After evidence was collected, the release said an arrest warrant was signed, and Renteria was arrested and charged with first degree murder.

Renteria is being held in the Smith County Jail on a $1 million bond.

Copyright 2024 KLTV. All rights reserved.