On January 24, 2025, at approximately 5:17 p.m., officers from the Corpus Christi Police Department responded to reports of a shooting at an apartment complex located on the 900 block of North Omaha Drive in Corpus Christi, Texas. Upon arrival, authorities discovered 40-year-old John Gabriel Sloma, a male, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound inside one of the apartments.
Emergency medical services transported Sloma to a nearby hospital, but he ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
Following an overnight investigation, Corpus Christi Police Department detectives, in collaboration with the Gang Unit, Violent Crimes Unit, and SWAT, pursued leads that resulted in the identification of a suspect. Authorities secured a murder warrant for 60-year-old Andrew Botello, who was subsequently located at a residence on Main Drive. Botello was arrested without incident and taken to the main police station for questioning before being booked into the city detention center on charges of murder.
Investigators believe that Sloma and Botello were acquainted prior to the fatal shooting. The circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation as authorities continue to gather evidence and interview potential witnesses. The Corpus Christi Police Department has urged anyone with additional information to come forward as they work to piece together the events leading up to the tragic death of 40-year-old John Gabriel Sloma.
