Manhunt for murder suspect continues in Mertzon area

SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage)

(UPDATE: 8:38 p.m., April 16) — Witnesses reported shots being fired Tuesday afternoon in Mertzon.

Ector County Sheriff Mike Griffis confirmed to our Midland KMID affiliate that there is a “man down” in the search for a wanted fugitive but did not yet know if the person shot was the suspect at the center of that search.

This afternoon, the Irion County Sheriff’s Office asked Mertzon citizens to avoid the area of First Street between W. Duncan Avenue and West Fayette Ave.

(UPDATE: 12:40 p.m., April 16) — According to Nexstar, the Ector County Sheriff’s Office has identified the deceased victim connected to a homicide investigation and active manhunt that started in Odessa, Texas, on Monday.

The sheriff’s office has identified the victim as 74-year-old Ronald Wayne Irwin. Irwin was initially believed to have been shot after confronting a man who approached his residence and asked to borrow his phone. However, investigators have also had reason to believe that Irwin was killed after being struck by a vehicle when the man attempted to flee the area.

Investigators are awaiting the results of Irwin’s autopsy to confirm the cause of death.

Ector County Sheriff Mike Griffis has also stated that the suspect has been tentatively identified. However, the man’s identity will not be released until law enforcement has received confirmation.

SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) — The search for an individual suspected of murdering a 75-year-old man in Odessa has entered its second day after a multi-county vehicle chase ended in the area surrounding Mertzon on Monday night.

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety for the West Texas region, the suspect is still at large in Irion County in the area of RM 2469, near the city of Mertzon. He is considered dangerous, and is described as follows:

• White male

• Blonde/light-brown hair

• Thin build

• Last seen wearing blue jeans and brown boots

• Armed with a firearm

“All available DPS assets are being utilized to assist with the search for the suspect,” TxDPS said.

TxDPS has advised the public to remain vigilant and keep their homes and vehicles locked. It also encourages people in the area to report any suspicious activity to law enforcement. The Irion County Sheriff’s Office’s phone number is (325) 835-2551.

The Ector County Sheriff’s Office released images taken from a home video device at a residence near where the homicide allegedly happened. The sheriff’s office asks anyone who recognizes the male in the photos to contact their local law enforcement agency.

Mertzon Mayor Aubrey Stewart issued a statement to residents at 6:33 a.m. on April 16 that law enforcement was still searching for the suspect as of 4:30 a.m. He stated that a grid search will be conducted “come daylight,” and more law enforcement is expected to arrive as a result.

Stewart advised citizens to stay aware, lock their cars and doors and avoid RM 2469 if possible. He also asked residents to refrain from “rubbernecking” so as not to impede law enforcement.

According to a Nexstar station in Ector County, Ector County Sheriff Mike Griffis stated that a homicide investigation has revealed that the suspect initially stole a vehicle in Lea County, New Mexico, and drove to West Odessa. Once in the city, the suspect allegedly approached a residence in the 5700 block of Greenway Avenue and asked a homeowner if he could borrow a phone. When the homeowners refused, a fight reportedly broke out between one homeowner, 75, and the suspect.

While it was believed at first that the suspect shot the homeowner before fleeing the scene, investigators now have reason to believe that the victim was run over by a vehicle while the suspect was escaping the area. Investigators are currently awaiting results from an autopsy to confirm this information.

Law enforcement began pursuing the suspect at approximately 10:50 a.m. on April 15 when an alleged victim flagged down officers near the intersection of Highway 80 and Faudree Road, claiming they had been shot. The suspect began the chase in a black Ford Mustang — the vehicle originally stolen in New Mexico — before crashing it and carjacking a tan Tahoe. He then crashed the Tahoe in a pasture near Mertzon, where he fled on foot.

This is a developing story. Stick with Concho Valley Homepage for updates as more information becomes available.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ConchoValleyHomepage.com.