OKLAHOMA CITY – A meth bust on Tuesday night led police straight to a man accused of murder.
The homicide was reported almost a year ago.
In October of 2013, Roberto Gonzalez was shot along S.W. 30th St. near Pennsylvania Ave.
“It appears the victim was shot while sitting in his vehicle,” said MSgt. Gary Knight, with the Oklahoma City Police Department.
Since that time, police have been searching for suspects.
“That case has remained unsolved or without an arrest since the occurrence,” said Knight.
At some point in the investigation, Leobardo Perez was identified as a potential suspect.
Fast forward to Tuesday night, Oklahoma City police served a search warrant on a home in the 3300 block of S.W. 25th St.
Inside that home, police allegedly found multiple bags of methamphetamine, marijuana, glass pipes, scales, a pistol, ammunition and cash.
They also arrested six suspects on counts of trafficking meth and other charges.
Those suspects are Wendy McElroy, Chad Milton, Izaai Ramirez, Dawn Wilke and Leobardo Perez.
Perez is also accused of murder.
“I’m just glad to hear, I feel safer,” said Bonnie Cole, who lives close to where Gonzalez’s body was found.
Not many people would talk in the neighborhood where Gonzalez was killed; however, Cole says she remembers that night almost a year ago.
She says it has made everyone in the area nervous, but hearing of an arrest will help them all rest a little easier.
“I’m just glad they got the guy off the streets,” said Cole.
Police say they expected to find drugs during Tuesday night’s bust, but a murder arrest was just a bit of luck.
“Every once in a while, in a case like this, we’ll have information that leads us directly to the suspect and then other times when a warrant is out there, an officer just happens to come across the suspect and that’s what happened last night,” said Knight.
