ATASCOSA COUNTY, Texas – A 21-year-old man is behind bars in connection with a double murder in Atascosa County, according to Jourdanton and Pleasanton police.
Samuel Ponce has been charged with two counts of murder and is in the Atascosa County Jail on a $2 million bond, police announced in a joint news conference on Wednesday.
Investigators said Ponce shot 23-year-old Jorge Erosa in Jourdanton just before 2 a.m. Monday in the 500 block of Elm Street, not far from Highway 16 South and Oak Street.
Erosa was taken to a hospital in Jourdanton and was then transferred to a hospital in San Antonio, where he was pronounced dead.
Ponce is accused of then shooting 18-year-old Ross Cruz Jr. in Pleasanton about 25 minutes later in the 100 block of North Mansfield, not far from West Oaklawn Road.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police say the motive appears to be drug-related but the investigation is ongoing.
WATCH BELOW: Authorities provide update on double homicide in Pleasanton, Jourdanton
Jourdanton police Chief Eric Kaiser said they reviewed surveillance footage that showed the suspect, later identified as Ponce, moments before the first shooting occurred.
The video also showed the suspect vehicle, which was driven by another man. Kaiser said they are questioning that driver.
Authorities identified Ponce as a person of interest on Monday and arrested him during a traffic stop that afternoon.
He was initially charged with drug and gun possession. Jourdanton police Chief Eric Kaiser said they believe he was in possession of the gun used in the fatal shootings.