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Double Slaying Probably Drug-Related, Police Say

Posted on: Monday, 13 March 2006, 06:00 CST

By Domingo Ramirez Jr., Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Texas

Mar. 13--KELLER -- Drugs found in a Keller home probably played a role in the shooting deaths of two young men in January, and the victims likely knew the killer or killers, police said.

But almost seven weeks later, no one has been arrested in the slayings.

The Tarrant County medical examiner's office identified the victims as Armando Perez, 22, who lived in the house, and Samuel Padilla, 20, of Fort Worth.

They died of multiple gunshot wounds, according to the medical examiner's office.

Less than 10 grams of marijuana was found in the house, along with cash and drug packaging materials, police said. Another drug that police say is used to dilute the strength of drugs such as cocaine was also found in the house, police said.

"We are looking at the drugs as possibly the principal cause for the shootings," said Keller police Lt Tommy Williams. "At this time, we just don't know how they played a part."

There were no signs that someone forced their way into the house, police said.

The men had been dead for several hours when their bodies were found by Perez's wife Jan. 25 in the couple's home in the 1100 block of North Main Street. One of the men was found on the floor near a sofa, according to police reports.

A weapon was found near the bodies, and other weapons were found in the house, police have said.

The large brick house sits near Main Street, also known as U.S. 377, in a wooded, sparsely populated part of north Keller. The nearest house is a quarter-mile away. Perez and his wife had been living in the house since September, after moving to North Texas from New Mexico, according to police reports.

Maria Perez could not be reached to comment. Police said she often stayed with her brother in Fort Worth.

"She apparently did not like the house being so isolated," Williams said. "She had family in Fort Worth, so she stayed there on occasion."

A relative, who spoke on the condition that his name not be used because a suspect has not been arrested, said Armando Perez had never complained of problems at the house.

"I had heard about the marijuana," the man said. "But he never said he was having problems with it or that someone was giving him problems."

According to police reports, patrol officers had not answered any calls to the house while the Perez couple lived there.

The slayings were only the fourth in the city in the last 26 years.

The FBI is assisting in the investigation.

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Domingo Ramirez Jr., (817) 685-3822 ramirez@star-telegram.com

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Copyright (c) 2006, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Texas

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Source: Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Fort Worth, Texas)

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