EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Two 19-year-old men were recently arrested and charged with murder after a 24-year-old man was shot and killed after an argument about opposing gang affiliations this past Saturday in far East El Paso, according to El Paso Police.
Police say Noah Daniel Lomeli, 19, and Damian Alexander De La Riva, 19, are both facing a murder charge and have been booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility, each under a $1 million bond.
As we have previously reported, Omar Infante Jr., 24, was shot and killed just before 4 a.m. on Saturday, July 20, at the Gonzalez Place Apartments in far East El Paso.
According to court documents, there was a small get-together that Saturday morning at an apartment where two witnesses, Infante, De La Riva, and Lomeli were present.
Court documents say an argument ensued between Infante and Lomeli regarding their opposing gang affiliations.
Court documents say that witnesses told police that Lomeli confirmed to Infante that he was a “6th street gang member which is known to investigators as a criminal street gang in El Paso.”
De La Riva, Lomeli, and Infante were then kicked out of the apartment by one of the witnesses.
Infante and Lomeli agreed to fight each other and walked down the stairwell of the apartment building toward the parking lot area.
Infante and Lomeli then began fist-fighting when both men pulled out handguns and pointed them at Infante.
Infante backed away from both men with his hands in the air. Court documents say video footage shows a shot going off, striking Infante and causing him to fall to the ground. The men then proceeded to beat Infante in the face afterward, according to court documents.
Court documents say Infante was “beaten, stomped, and pistol-whipped numerous times.”
During this time, another gunshot was heard and both men grabbed an unknown item from Infante’s torso and walked away.
Lomeli also allegedly took a picture of Infante while he was on the ground and then fled the apartment complex with De La Riva in a vehicle.
Infante was discovered to have suspected gunshot wounds to his torso and his head, according to court documents.
The men were later identified through the use of booking photos and a photo lineup.
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