On August 21, 2023, 18-year-old Ross Noel Cruz Jr. was fatally shot in Pleasanton, Texas. The incident occurred around 2 a.m. in the 100 block of North Mansfield Street, where officers found Cruz unresponsive with multiple gunshot wounds; he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Approximately 25 minutes earlier, another shooting had taken place in Jourdanton, about 5.6 miles away, resulting in the death of 23-year-old Jorge Erosa. Investigators quickly determined that the two incidents were connected.
Authorities identified 21-year-old Samuel Xavier Ponce as a suspect in both murders. He was arrested during a traffic stop in Pleasanton on August 21, during which officers found cocaine and a firearm in his vehicle. Ponce was initially charged with drug and weapons offenses; subsequent investigations led to two counts of murder being added. He is currently held in the Atascosa County Jail on a $2 million bond.
The motive behind the shootings is believed to be drug-related, though investigations are ongoing. Both the Jourdanton and Pleasanton Police Departments, along with the Texas Rangers, are actively involved in the case.
Ross Cruz Jr. was born on November 15, 2004, and is survived by his mother, siblings, and extended family. He was laid to rest following services at Hosanna Baptist Church in Poteet, Texas.
