David Escobedo

David Escobedo, a 51-year-old Hispanic man, was a beloved husband and father whose life was cut short in a violent home invasion in San Antonio, Texas. He was born on December 23, 1966, and was known as a cherished member of his family and community.

In the early morning hours of October 17, 2018, a deadly chain of events unfolded at the Rosemont at Miller's Pond Apartments in the 6200 block of Old Pearsall Road. According to police, a group of men had abducted a 23-year-old longtime family friend of the Escobedos at gunpoint, forcing him to lead them to David's second-story apartment. The invasion was allegedly motivated by images of guns, money, and narcotics that had been seen on social media. The assailants used the abducted friend as a decoy, forcing him to ring the doorbell. When the door was opened, three men with their faces covered stormed inside.

The intruders, armed with an assault rifle, a snub-nosed revolver, and a handgun, immediately began fighting with David Escobedo. During the struggle, a shot was fired. A witness who had hidden behind the front door saw one of the men shoot David in the back as he lay face down on the ground. David's 26-year-old son, John Escobedo, was asleep in a bedroom when he heard the commotion and gunfire. He grabbed a gun and fired at the intruders before being shot in the neck. Another man inside the apartment, a 25-year-old, escaped by jumping from the second-story balcony. A woman and children were also present in the apartment but were not physically harmed.

When San Antonio police officers arrived around 2:40 a.m., they found David Escobedo deceased in the breezeway outside the apartment. His son, John, was found inside and rushed to University Hospital for surgery. Police noted that a large quantity of drugs was discovered at the scene, and they began investigating the homicide as a possible botched robbery connected to gang activity.

The investigation quickly led to arrests. The day after the murder, on October 18, 2018, police arrested Jose Alberto Sanchez, 30, after he was reportedly caught shoplifting an item worth less than $20 from a store. Fidencio Badillo, 57, was also arrested that day. A third suspect, Miguel Diaz, was taken into custody on October 31. All three were charged in connection with the murder. An arrest warrant was issued for a fourth suspect, 29-year-old Henry Lozano.

The search for Lozano continued for several months. On January 14, 2019, San Antonio police officers conducted a traffic stop on the city's West Side and took Henry Lozano into custody. He was the final suspect sought in the case and was subsequently charged with murder, joining the other three men who were already facing charges for their roles in David Escobedo's death. The case then moved into the judicial system to address the actions of the four accused men.

The violent death of David Escobedo left his family and friends devastated. His loved ones organized fundraisers to help with unexpected expenses and created memorial pages to honor his memory. The case highlighted the dangers of social media portrayals and the brutal consequences of drug-related violence that plagued the community. As of the latest reports from January 2019, all four suspects had been arrested and charged, and the case was proceeding through the legal system.