On Tuesday, police arrested 21-year-old Aaron Arocha on unrelated charges. They were able to match the ammo found in his car to what was found at the crime scene.
SAN ANTONIO — San Antonio police arrested a 21-year-old man who admitted to his uncle the ‘Santa Muerte told him’ to carry out the killing of a woman on the northwest side.
“Certainly chilling,” said Madeline Chandler, vice president of the Jefferson Neighborhood Association.
“It’s unfortunate that somebody was killed but it’s fortunate that somebody was quickly found, this person is longer a danger to our neighborhood,” said Jason Vasquez, president of the Jefferson Neighborhood Association. W
According to authorities, Aaron Arocha revealed to relatives he shot and killed 44-year-old Sheri Tolosa at her home along the 1000 block of Donaldson Avenue.
The investigation began with a welfare check Monday afternoon when someone called, stating a family member alerted her that the suspect shot someone at her house.
The original 911 caller, who lives at the home, was out of town so she informed her niece to check out the residence. The niece helped police gain entry to the home since she had a key. Per the affidavit, the aunt was unable to get a hold of her roommate, who is the murder victim and the suspect, who happens to be her nephew.
Inside the home, officers discovered Tolosa shot dead in the kitchen.
Authorities say it appeared Tolosa had been trying to run away from Arocha and there were no indications that she was fighting with the suspect.
“It was alarming to our residents,” Vasquez said. “Luckily, we had our neighborhood association meeting that evening and we got a full briefing from our neighborhood SAFFE officer.”
On Tuesday, police arrested Arocha on unrelated charges. Officers found a box of .380 caliber ammunition with some missing rounds. The ammo matched the same brand and caliber found at the crime scene, of which five shell casings were recovered. Tolosa had been shot four times.
During the investigation, police learned Arocha confessed to an uncle he shot Tolosa because of the Santa Muerte compelled him to do so. The Santa Muerte is a Mexican folk saint representing death.
Meantime, residents in the Jefferson neighborhood spent Thursday reflecting on the tragedy while also trying to enjoy their Fiesta-themed block party.
“Justice will be served. I have full confidence in that,” Chandler said. “Just a reminder to lookout for each other.”
“When sad things happen like this happen we always have something fun to bounce back with. Our neighborhood is strong. Our community is better when we’re together,” Vasquez said.
As of Thursday night, Arocha was still locked up at the Bexar County jail with no bond set.