On Saturday, June 22, 2024, at 3:58am, officers were dispatched to the 5200 block of Gollihar Road in reference to a shooting with injuries.

Officers arrived and located two victims, a 19-year-old male and an 18-year-old male, suffering from gunshot wounds. Officers provided medical attention until CCFD Medics arrived and transported the males to local hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries.

Officers found that the incident occurred on the 900 block of Ashland Drive. Both victims were uncooperative with officers and would not provide details about the incident. Currently, there is no suspect information. Officers do not believe this to be a random act of violence.

This is an active and ongoing investigation. If you have any information regarding this incident, you are urged to call Detectives at 361-886-2840. You may also call Crime Stoppers at 361-888-TIPS or submit the information online at https://www.p3tips.com/TipForm.aspx?ID=343&C=&T=.

The following roadways have been closed due to high water on the roadway:

*East Causeway Blvd (access road to West Causeway turnaround) on North Beach
*Both turnarounds under the JFK
*Turnaround for Oso Bridge on the Flour Bluff side
*Numerous roads on North Beach are shut down due to high water
*All streets south of Elm Street
*All streets east of Surfside Blvd between Coastal Place and Gulfspray Ave
*All streets east of Gulfbreeze Blvd from Gulfspray Ave to Sandbar Ave
*Gulfbreeze Blvd north of Sandbar Ave

Motorists are strongly encouraged to slow down, do not drive into high water or around barricades and if you must be on the road, be aware of possible flooding on the roadways.

On June 15, 2024, at about 8:20 am, while searching the area of 9600 Hearns Ferry Rd, the Corpus Christi Police Department along with specialized K-9 units located a body matching that of recent missing person Tanya Garza.

 The body was located in a gated area surround by thick heavy brush.

 The medical examiner has been contacted and will ultimately confirm the identity of the individual located.

This is still an ongoing investigation.

Detectives with the Robbery Homicide Division are actively investigating missing person Tanya Garza.

Tanya Garza is 27 years old, is approximately 4’10” tall, and weighs 100 pounds. She was reported missing on June 10 by family members.

Tanya was last seen on June 7 with her boyfriend, Matthew Davila.

On June 7 Matthew was driving Tanya’s white SUV when the police attempted a traffic stop on him. He evaded the police and was not located.

 The white SUV was later located burned.

On June 12 CCPD K-9 units along with the Drone units searched the area where the burned vehicle was located.

On June 13 Matthew Davila was located and taken to the main police station for interviewing.

Matthew along with Detectives went to the location where the vehicle was located to search and possibly retrace steps.

Matthew Davila (28 YOA) was ultimately arrested for an outstanding warrant for Evading arrest in a motor vehicle. He was transported to the City Detention Center for booking.

If you have any information about Tanya Garza or this case, please call the Detectives at 361-886-2840, or you can remain anonymous and call 888-TIPS.

On Monday, June 10, 2024 at 0956 hours, Corpus Christi Police Officers were dispatched to the area of Kostoryz Road and South Padre Island Drive in reference to a multi vehicle accident.  When officers arrived on scene, they found that a juvenile male, with intellectual disabilities, was the driver of the vehicle that had struck three other vehicles.  There were no major injuries to any of the involved individuals.  Officers conducted a welfare check and released the juvenile to his parents.

On Wednesday June 12, 2024, at 1859 hours, Corpus Christi police officers were dispatched to the 4400 block of Kostoryz Rd in reference to a motor vehicle accident.  Officers arrived and found that a juvenile male had struck multiple vehicles at this location.  Officers found that the juvenile male driving the vehicle, is the same juvenile male from the motor vehicle accident on Monday June 10, 2024.  

While we understand the public interest and concern for the safety and wellbeing of this child, the Corpus Christi Police Department will not be releasing the juvenile’s identity.  The Corpus Christi Police Department would like to recognize and commend the quick actions of the security officer and citizen’s whose immediate actions assisted in keeping the juvenile and citizens safe.  The Corpus Christi Police Department has notified the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services 

On Friday, June 7, 2024, at 9:31pm, officers were dispatched to the 5800 block of Skylark Drive in reference to a shooting with injuries.

Officers arrived and located two shooting victims: a 44-year-old female and a 60-year-old female. Both victims were transported by medics to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. The 44-year-old victim has since succumbed to her injuries.

Detectives with the Criminal Investigation Division arrived and began their investigation. They found that a black passenger car with black rims, possibly a Mazda, drove by the residence and began shooting into the residence, where the two women were struck by the gunfire. The vehicle fled the scene.

If you have any information regarding this incident, you are urged to call Detectives at 361-886-2840. You may also call Crime Stoppers at 361-888-TIPS or submit the information online at https://www.p3tips.com/TipForm.aspx?ID=343&C=&T=. Information provided to Crime Stoppers is anonymous and if the information leads to an arrest, it could earn you a cash reward.

On Friday, June 7, 2024, at 8:01pm, officers were dispatched to the 11900 block of Leopard Street in reference to a shooting with injuries.

Officers arrived and located a 26-year-old male gunshot victim. Medics transported the victim to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

Officer and Detective investigation found that the victim and 47-year-old Edward Smith had a verbal disturbance and at some point, Smith produced a handgun and shot the victim. Smith was arrested for murder and transported to the City Detention Center for booking.

This incident is not a random act of violence as the victim and offender were known to each other.

This is still an ongoing and active investigation. If you have any additional information you are asked to call Detectives at 361-886-2840, or if you wish to remain anonymous 361-888-TIPS.  

Senior Officer Vicente Ortiz Jr. served with the Corpus Christi Police Department for 15 years. Vicente began his career in 2009 as a cadet in the 68th Police Academy. Immediately following graduation, he served in the Uniform Division as a patrol officer. In 2014, Vicente received the Life Saving Ribbon for saving his father’s life. His father collapsed due to having a heart attack, and Vicente immediately began CPR, which doctor’s credited Vicente’s immediate actions to saving his life. Later in 2014, Vicente was promoted to the rank of Senior Officer. In 2015, Vicente was commended by an employee of the Alabama Bureau of Investigations for his professionalism on duty. Vicente was awarded his second Life Saving Ribbon in 2016. Vicente saved the life of a person in crisis who was actively attempting to commit suicide. In 2017, Vicente received a Letter of Recognition for his proactive work of taking three firearms off the street in a matter of weeks. It was during this same time, he was chosen to be a Field Training Officer (FTO). Field Training Officers train and mentor recruit officers, and act as supervisors, counselors, supporters, and role models. Officers, throughout their career, will often return to their former FTO’s for guidance and support throughout their career. In 2018, Vicente was transferred to the Traffic Division and initially worked in a traffic car. Vicente then completed the rigorous two-week motorcycle certification course through Northwestern Center for Public Safety. He then served in the Motor Unit in the Traffic Division. In 2022, he was commended by the United States Secret Service for his contributions to a major operation involving former President Donald Trump. Vicente was loved and respected by everyone at the Corpus Christi Police Department and will be dearly missed.

In regard to the ongoing investigation into the mysterious disappearance of Texas A&M Corpus Christi student Caleb Harris, Detectives with the Corpus Christi Police Department are aware of some recent activity on Harris’s cell phone that has caught the attention of concerned individuals following this case online and through social media.  Although this activity may give the impression that Caleb has re-activated his cell phone, Detectives are supremely confident that this is not the case, but instead it is simply the result of one of many investigative techniques currently being employed by the Forensic Computer Examiners.  Corpus Christi Police Department Detectives, along with their state and federal partners, continue to aggressively investigate Caleb’s disappearance.    

If you have information regarding the disappearance of Caleb Harris, please contact the Corpus Christi Police Department at (361) 826-2840 or you can submit an anonymous tip at Crime Stoppers 888-TIPS (888-8477).  The tipline number set up by the Harris family is (361) 826-2950.  

On June 2, 2024, at about 2:18 AM officers were dispatched to the 500 block of Taylor St in reference to a stabbing. When officers arrived, they located a 26-year-old male victim. He was transported to a local hospital by medics. The male later succumbed to his injuries.

The scene was secured, and Robbery Homicide Detectives were called out to assist.

During this time officers began to contact witnesses. As officers were checking the surrounding area, they located an involved male a few blocks away. This male had non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. Once he was medically cleared, he was taken to the CCPD main station for interviewing.

The male was identified as Ruben Castro Jr. (26 YOA). After interviewing, Castro was transported to the City Detention Center where he was booked and charged with Murder.

This is still an ongoing and active investigation. If you have any additional information you are asked to call Investigators at 361-886-2840, or if you wish to remain anonymous 888-TIPS.