EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Two men were arrested on Sept. 12 after a shooting that injured one of the men’s ex-girlfriends and killed her new boyfriend in an East El Paso home, according to court documents obtained by KTSM.
Salvador Gomez, 44, and Manuel Gonzalez, 43, were both charged with murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for the shooting death of 34-year-old Jearhamel Fanaro and injuring a 26-year-old woman, according to El Paso Police.
Shortly before 2:40 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 9, officers were dispatched to a shots-fired call after a resident from the area advised that he had heard shots fired near his home.
Upon arrival and while checking the area, officers located several spent casings in front of the home located at the 1700 block of Dale Douglas Drive. Officers did not find any witnesses or victims and failed to make contact with residents, according to court documents.
Around an hour later, officers were again dispatched to the same home in reference to a shooting. A witness advised that two people had been shot.
Officers located Fanaro dead. He was inside a bedroom with a suspected gunshot wound on his chest. The 26-year-old victim was also found with gunshot injuries to her left arm and leg, according to court documents.
During a safety sweep, officers observed suspected blood throughout the home, including the room where Fanaro was located. The victim was taken to a local hospital, and the home was cleared and secured.
Officers later located surveillance video that captured the sound of gunshots and a man running from the home holding a machete, according to court documents.
A machete and a black Nike tennis shoe were found across the street at 2800 Trawood Drive. Suspected bullet strikes were observed on a black wrought-iron fence and gate near the home where Fanaro and the victim were found.
Investigators interviewed the victim, who said that she and Fanaro were in the backyard hanging out by a fire pit and going in and out of the bedroom, which is located on the north side of the home in the backyard, according to court documents.
The victim said she heard Fanaro say, “These guys are coming,” before observing two men on foot approaching the home. The victim further stated that she and Fanaro were at their bedroom door when gunshots were fired. She dropped to the ground and could not see Fanaro because it was dark, according to court documents.
On Thursday, Sept. 11, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) agents notified investigators of an unrelated investigation involving Gomez. A DPS agent reported that Gomez admitted to being present during the shooting at Dale Douglas Drive and claimed to know the suspect, saying he was willing to speak to investigators.
Officers met with Gomez, who said he and Gonzalez went to the home on Dale Douglas Drive on Sept. 9 because he wanted to fight Fanaro and brought Gonzalez as “backup,” according to court documents.
Gomez explained he wanted to fight Fanaro because Fanaro had previously jumped him at his home. The incident was documented, and Fanaro was arrested for his offense. Gomez also admitted that the victim is his ex-girlfriend, and Fanaro was the new boyfriend.
He said that he and Gonzalez arrived at the home in Gonzalez’s vehicle, a black Chevrolet Avalanche. They parked on the south side of the street, facing east near Trawood Drive.
Gomez said that after exiting the vehicle, he armed himself with a machete, and both he and Gonzalez approached the home. He explained that once they were in the driveway, they observed the victim and Fanaro in the backyard, according to court documents.
He stated he heard Gonzalez say, “You want to play,” then all of a sudden, gunshots were heard, and Gomez saw Gonzalez shooting at the victim and Fanaro.
Gomez explained that when he heard the gunshots, he turned and ran back toward the truck. While running back, he hit a wall and lost his black Nike tennis shoe and dropped the machete. When he and Gonzalez entered the truck, they fled the scene toward George Dieter, according to court documents.
While driving, Gomez said Gonzalez was laughing and said, “I got them, I beat him to the punch.” Gomez added that he observed Gonzalez place a 9mm handgun on the middle console.
Gomez detailed that earlier that night on Sept. 8, he drove to the home at Dale Douglas Drive and saw Fanaro and the victim. He was with another friend, but he did not stop; instead, he drove back to his home.
However, when Gomez arrived home, Gonzalez was already there and admitted to asking Gonzalez to back him up and directing him to the home where Fanaro was located, according to court documents.
Both offenders, Gonzalez and Gomez, were subsequently taken into custody and booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility. As of Wednesday, Sept. 17, neither has bonded out, according to jail records.
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