Houston, Texas – In a court hearing on Tuesday morning, new information emerged regarding the circumstances leading to the fatal shooting of a man in his car in north Houston. The suspect in the case is accused of attempting to disguise his truck to evade detection by law enforcement.
Osman Solorzano Sanchez, 32, the man charged with the murder, chose not to appear in court but had his charges formally presented. The victim, 27-year-old Ricardo Vega, was discovered dead in his vehicle on West Canino Road near I-45 North Freeway on the night of Monday, April 15.
Initial reports were unclear about the events preceding the shooting, with investigators uncertain if the incident stemmed from road rage. Surveillance footage obtained by ABC13 showed Vega following the suspect’s truck, with both vehicles running through two stop signs before the fatal encounter.
Evidence presented in court revealed that Vega had called 911 to report following someone after a hit-and-run incident. Tragically, Vega was discovered deceased in his vehicle with a gunshot wound to the head. Sanchez is facing charges of murder and tampering with evidence, with allegations that he disposed of the weapon and modified his truck’s appearance to avoid recognition.
Investigators believe Sanchez altered his truck by removing distinct features such as a unique hood, license plate, stickers, and paint. Shell casings found at the scene matched bullets reportedly purchased by the suspect. The magistrate judge set Sanchez’s bond at $150,000 for the murder charge and an additional $30,000 for tampering with evidence, totaling $180,000.
Sanchez, who has resided in Houston for approximately eight years and is a father, is scheduled to appear in court again for a bond review. The prosecution contends that Sanchez went to great lengths to alter his truck to avoid identification from the surveillance footage captured by the police.