Angel Vasquez Munguia

A knock on a door on a spring night in Ohio shattered the peace and ended a young man’s life, leaving a family grieving and a suspect in the wind. Angel Vasquez Munguia, a 29-year-old Hispanic man from Indianapolis, was a visitor in Middletown, Ohio, on the evening of Saturday, April 3, 2021, when he was shot and killed. His death sparked a manhunt for a suspect who vanished shortly after the crime, leaving many questions unanswered.

The fatal encounter took place shortly before 10 p.m. in the 4100 block of Bonita Drive. According to the Middletown Division of Police, officers were dispatched to the residential street after reports of gunfire. When they arrived, they found Angel Vasquez Munguia in a driveway, suffering from fatal gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The investigation quickly focused on a man who lived at the Bonita Drive residence: 52-year-old Tomas Prieto Morales. Police determined that just before the shooting, there had been a knock on the door of the home. Instead of answering, Morales allegedly went outside. What happened in the moments that followed is not entirely clear, but it ended with Vasquez Munguia being shot. Investigators noted that Vasquez Munguia was armed at the time of the incident, and a gun was found with his body.

In the immediate aftermath, Morales disappeared. Detectives learned that he had spoken with family members by phone after the shooting but then turned his phone off. An urgent search began for two vehicles associated with him: a white 2007 Chevrolet Express Cargo Van and a white Chevrolet box truck. Both vehicles were soon located by police. One was found parked at a residence on Poplar Street in Middletown, where acquaintances of Morales who worked with him laying carpet were using it for jobs.

The box truck, however, added a mysterious element to the suspect’s escape. Traffic cameras captured the truck in Texas, but investigators believed it was driven back to Middletown by someone other than Morales, further complicating the trail. Despite searching the Poplar Street residence, police did not find him. Believing Morales might be attempting to flee to Mexico, the Middletown Division of Police issued a warrant for his arrest on a charge of murder and sent out a national "be on the lookout" alert.

Days turned into weeks, and with no sign of Tomas Prieto Morales, the investigation continued. Middletown police, led by Detective Ryan Morgan, publicly appealed for information. "We would really like to get Tomas’ side of the story about what happened,” a police major stated at the time, hoping to encourage the suspect to come forward or for the public to provide tips.

As of the latest available information, the murder of Angel Vasquez Munguia remains unsolved. Tomas Prieto Morales has not been apprehended, and the murder warrant for his arrest is still active. The case stands as a painful open wound for his loved ones, who are still awaiting justice. Authorities continue to ask for the public's help in closing this case. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Tomas Prieto Morales or details about the shooting is urged to call the Middletown Division of Police at 513-425-7700 or Detective Ryan Morgan directly at 513-425-7735.