On January 2, 2024, at approximately 11:47 p.m., 48-year-old Fredericksburg resident Arthur Cortez was fatally shot during a robbery at the Kwikchek Convenience Store on South State Highway 16. According to police reports, a man entered the store, proceeded to the back where he donned a white skull mask, and then returned to the front, where he shot Cortez and demanded money from the clerk. The assailant fled the scene on foot, leaving the clerk unharmed.
The Fredericksburg Police Department launched an immediate investigation, releasing surveillance footage and seeking assistance from the community to identify the suspect. Within 24 hours, tips led authorities to 21-year-old Awes Singko Rapet, who was located at a local motel. Officers executed arrest and search warrants, apprehending Rapet without incident. Evidence recovered during the arrest included items used in the commission of the crime.
Rapet was charged with capital murder and booked into the Gillespie County Jail. The swift apprehension was attributed to the collaborative efforts between law enforcement and the Fredericksburg community, whose prompt tips were instrumental in identifying and locating the suspect. The police department expressed gratitude for the community's assistance, emphasizing that such cooperation was crucial in bringing the perpetrator to justice.
The tragic death of Arthur Cortez, a long-term resident of Fredericksburg, has left the community in mourning. While the investigation revealed that Cortez had a lengthy criminal history, police indicated that, at the time of the incident, he appeared to be a customer at the store with no known connection to the suspect. The community's outrage over the senseless act underscores the town's collective grief and its resolve to support justice for the victim and his family.
