The death of a 26-year-old man found sprawled in a yard earlier this week has been ruled a homicide, according to investigators.
Enrique Lopez Estrada suffered a single wound from a .22-caliber bullet, and while no arrest was reported at press time, a person of interest has been developed, police said.
"After the results of the autopsy, it's going to be a murder," Chief Henry Fluck said.
Police originally carried the death as “suspicious” pending the outcome of the forensic examination. Fluck said there was no external bleeding.
"It was not visible. It (wound) wasn't found until the autopsy occurred," the chief said.
The examination showed the bullet entered the victim’s back under the shoulder.
"It went down and hit some vital organs, to include the heart," Fluck said. "Probably, death was rather immediate."
According to reports, officers received a call at 7:11 p.m. Monday about an unresponsive man in the yard of a home in the 1400 block of Jones Street. When officers arrived, paramedics were attempting to revive Estrada.
He was pronounced dead at 8:01 p.m.
"What happened here is (Estrada) was assaulted twice, and during the second assault someone came up, while he was on the ground, and fired a single round into his back," Fluck said.
Police said the victim and attacker knew each other.
"This was not some type of random shooting," Fluck said. "It was an altercation between people who were acquaintances. Unfortunately, it resulted in the death of a 26-year-old man."
While police do not believe the community is in peril, Fluck said the assailant is considered armed and dangerous.
"This is not considered a threat to the community as these individuals had a disagreement, and they unfortunately settled it with violence,” he added.
Police said they continue working with the Williamson County District Attorney's office on the case.
