Raul Ramos Moreno, a 43-year-old man from Laredo, Texas, was a husband and a father to a large, blended family. Born in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico, he made his life in Laredo and was married to Julieta Carranco. Together, they raised nine children: Christian Joel Robles, Joseph Alexander Robles, Adam Robles, Lisa Micheal Ramos, Lydia Elaine Ramos, Anthony Ramos, Fernando Contreras, Evelyn Moreno, and Eden Moreno.
His life, deeply intertwined with his family's, came to a violent and sudden end alongside his younger brother, Gustavo Ramos Moreno.
The night of Saturday, October 24, 2026, was shattered by gunfire in the small community of Pueblo Nuevo, a rural area located about 11 miles east of Laredo off State Highway 359. Webb County Sheriff's Office deputies were dispatched to a residence at 808 Main Street at approximately 11:27 p.m. following reports of a shooting. Upon arrival, they discovered a grim scene. Two men, later identified as Raul and his 40-year-old brother Gustavo, were found with apparent gunshot wounds.
Deputies immediately began performing CPR and other life-saving measures. Tragically, Raul was pronounced dead at the scene. Emergency responders transported Gustavo to a local hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries there. The brothers, separated by just three years, died together, leaving their extensive families to grapple with the sudden and devastating loss. Gustavo, also a lifelong Laredo resident born in Nuevo Laredo, was married to Maribel C. Ramos and was a father to six children and a grandfather to seven.
The Webb County Sheriff’s Office, led by Sheriff Martin Cuéllar, launched a double homicide investigation. The Criminal Investigations Division worked alongside the Patrol Division from the initial call, interviewing witnesses and canvassing the area for leads. Within two days, authorities publicly identified the victims and announced they had a suspect. Investigators secured two arrest warrants for murder for a man named Manuel De Jesus Cruz-Estudillo.
Authorities released information on the suspect, whose age was reported as either 39 or 42 in various reports, and stated he was last seen driving a black Volkswagen Atlas SUV. The Sheriff's Office warned the public that Cruz-Estudillo should be considered armed and dangerous and urged citizens not to approach him. While officials stated they believed he acted alone and did not pose a threat to the community at large, no motive for the shooting was publicly released. The investigation was said to involve state and federal agencies, and authorities in Mexico were also contacted.
In the days that followed, the grieving families of Raul and Gustavo Ramos Moreno prepared to lay them to rest. Visitations for both brothers were scheduled, allowing friends and relatives to pay their respects. A GoFundMe campaign was organized to help the families with funeral expenses. The community was left shaken by the violent deaths of the two brothers, who were remembered by a large circle of relatives and friends.
As of late October 2026, the investigation into the murders of Raul and Gustavo Ramos Moreno was ongoing. The suspect, Manuel De Jesus Cruz-Estudillo, remained at large. The Webb County Sheriff's Office offered a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to his arrest and urged anyone with knowledge of his whereabouts to contact their tip line at (956) 415-BUST (2878) or the Webb County Dispatch at (956) 523-4408.
