Leroy Ortiz, 35, of Orange Grove, Texas, was shot to death on December 5, 2021, shortly after being released from the Jim Wells County jail in Alice. Ortiz had an extensive arrest history, listed at a minimum of 44 prior arrests for offenses including aggravated assault, car theft, and intoxication on public roads. After his afternoon release, Ortiz went to a house where a confrontation occurred and one of the residents fired a couple of bullets that killed him.

The Jim Wells County Sheriff’s Office announced the shooting as a homicide and opened an investigation. Three people — Matthew Ortiz, Justin Benavides, and Crystal Ybanez — were arrested in connection with the case and were accused of engaging in criminal organized activity and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Sheriff Daniel Bueno said evidence and crime scene samples would be submitted to the District Attorney and that the arrested individuals’ fate would be presented to a grand jury; the investigation remains active.

Does anyone have information about Ortiz’s movements that afternoon or the house where the confrontation happened?