Executive Summary
- Gabriel Manuel Ontiveros, 30, was arrested by SWAT on an El Paso rooftop.
- The suspect is charged with the murder of Eduardo Contreras in Socorro.
- Police recovered a firearm and shell casings linking Ontiveros to the scene.
- Witnesses allege the shooting was motivated by jealousy.
- The operation involved the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Rangers, and El Paso PD.
EL PASO, Texas — A 30-year-old man charged with murder was taken into custody by SWAT teams after being discovered on the roof of a residence, ending a multi-agency manhunt linked to a homicide in Socorro. Gabriel Manuel Ontiveros was arrested following the standoff and is accused in the shooting death of 35-year-old Eduardo Contreras.
According to an arrest affidavit filed by the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, the investigation began on Sunday, January 25, when Socorro police officers responded to a report of a possible aggravated assault on the 10500 block of Monte Alto. Upon arrival, officers discovered Contreras deceased inside the residence with a gunshot wound to the back of the head. The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit and the Texas Rangers assumed jurisdiction over the investigation.
Investigators identified Ontiveros as the primary suspect based on witness testimony. The affidavit states that a female witness, identified as the suspect’s ex-girlfriend, told detectives that Ontiveros shot Contreras in a fit of jealousy after she returned home with the victim from a shopping trip. Following the shooting, Ontiveros allegedly threatened the woman and her uncle, warning them to remain silent before fleeing the scene.
Law enforcement tracked Ontiveros to the 3100 block of North Piedras in El Paso. The El Paso Police Department’s SWAT and Crisis Management Team were deployed to the location, where they located the suspect on the roof of a home. Ontiveros reportedly told negotiators he was suicidal due to outstanding warrants but was eventually apprehended without further violence. Detectives recovered a firearm and shell casings at the scene which allegedly link him to the crime.
Procedural Next Steps
Sheriff Ugarte noted that the arrest was the result of collaboration between the Sheriff’s Office, Socorro Police, and the El Paso Police Department. Authorities have stated that probable cause exists to charge Ontiveros with murder, and he has been booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility. As the case moves to the judicial phase, prosecutors will review the gathered evidence, including the recovered weapon and witness statements, to formalize charges. It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
