SMITH COUNTY, Texas — One person was arrested and another is dead following a July 4 shooting in Smith County.
According to the Smith County Sheriff's Office, on Thursday, around 10:45 p.m., deputies responded to a shooting in the 3700 block of Hwy, 271 N., near Tyler, after dispatch initially received information a gunshot victim was at a Tyler hospital.
Smith County investigators responded to both the hospital and to the crime scene and learned three friends were driving a truck down Old Gladewater Hwy., and came upon a dead end. After turning around to head back toward Hwy. 271, they drove behind Bautista Auto Sales. As they passed, officials say multiple gunshots were heard and a backseat passenger, identified as Rawly Sanchez, 19, was shot in the back of the head.
The other two occupants of the truck took Sanchez to the hospital where he died.
Investigators identified the suspect as Seferino Bautista-Renteria, 35, the owner of Bautista Auto Sales. He was detained at his residence while officials executed search warrants at his home and business.
Bautista-Renteria was then arrested for murder and booked into the Smith County Jail on $1 million bond.
Sanchez's body was sent to Dallas for autopsy.
The investigation is ongoing.