On July 1, 2024, officers found Alexis Jose Vegas’ body lying face down in a grassy area next to the highway with several gunshot wounds.
SAN ANTONIO — A man has been arrested in connection to the murder of a man found dead on the side of Highway 281 back in July.
On July 1, the San Antonio Police Department responded to the 6300 block of US Highway 281 North Southbound after receiving reports of s shooting.
Upon arrival officers found 19-year-old Alexis Jose Vegas’ body lying face down in a grassy area next to the highway with several gunshot wounds. Police said they also discovered several spent shell casings and black zip ties next to Vegas.
Early in the investigation, several witnesses told police that Vegas was kidnapped from his apartment complex. Investigators then were able to gain a few leads on suspects, including a man identified as Elber Gabriel Sira-Vargas.
Months later, Sira-Vargas was arrested following a traffic stop after police witnessed the vehicle matched the description given to investigators.
Investigators realized that just hours before finding Vegas’ body, a robbery had been reported where someone was also shot and hospitalized.
When officials interviewed the robbery victim, he was reportedly vague with answers. Which made sense once investigators discovered he was with Vegas when he was killed.
After some digging, investigators found that the robbery victim had been detained at the ICE Detention Facility in Colorado. This led authorities to travel there to get more information.
The robbery victim reportedly provided intimate details about the kidnapping and murder after telling police he was initially scared the suspects would find him if he gave more information about what happened.
He explained to investigators that he was at the apartment with Vegas when three armed suspects barged in and tied them up before throwing them into a vehicle. He was able to describe the location where the vehicle stopped and the crime occurred, which lined up exactly with where police found Vegas.
The suspects then reportedly told Vegas and the robbery victim to get out of the car. He told investigators that the front passenger then got out of the vehicle and opened fire.
The robbery victim told authorities he sustained several gunshot wounds but pretended to be dead until the suspects left.
Investigators then gave the robbery victim a six-person photo lineup, during which he was able to positively identify Sira-Vargas as one of the suspects.
Sira-Vargas is facing charges of capital murder by terror threat and aggravated kidnapping with a deadly weapon.