Couple gunned down at San Juan smoke shop

SAN JUAN - Police continue to look for two men who allegdly gunned down a married couple inside their smoke shop late Monday night.

At least one gunshot killed Ricardo Bocanegra, 28, who was pronounced dead at the scene. He was shot at least once in the abdomen, Inv. Jose Flores of the San Juan Police Department said Tuesday morning.

An autopsy of Bocanegra's body is set for 9:30 a.m. today.

His wife, Jennifer Bocanegra, was taken to the hospital with multiple gunshot wounds. She was shot in the arms and continues to recover this morning, police said. It is unclear whether she is pregnant, Flores said.

Police who responded about 9:15 p.m. Monday to a shooting at Smoke Stop, a tobacco and adult novelty store just off U.S. Expressway 83 in the 600 block of I Road. 

Officers detained one man for questioning, but he was later released, Flores said. A second man involved in the robbery was still at large late Monday as police searched for him with a helicopter.

Authorities continue to search for two suspects, described as Hispanic men who are both about 5 feet 7 inches tall. They were last seen running west into Pharr from "I" Road. One was wearing a brown sweater and the other was clad in a gray sweater, Flores said.

San Juan Police Chief Juan Gonzalez said the preliminary investigation indicated the couple was shot during a botched robbery.

"So far, nothing has been reported as missing inside the store," Gonzalez said as his officers searched for evidence. "We are investigating it as an attempted robbery that went bad."

Surveillance recordings at the shop have revealed little about the apparent robbery-turned-murder thus far, Flores said. It appears the hard drive that stores the video may have been full.

Investigators believe whomever fired the gunshots Monday night used a small-caliber handgun, possibly a revolver, police said.

Mary Ramirez, a San Juan resident who is the aunt of Ricardo Bocanegra, said the couple opened the smoke store about four months ago.

They worked there together most nights while their two girls, aged about 4-years-old and 2-years-old, stayed with a babysitter.

An older son was at a youth athletic event Monday night.

"He was a good man," she said before heading to the hospital with other family members to wait on news about Jennifer Bocanegra's condition. "He loved his kids."

A man who identified himself as a story employee said the store had no problems with crime since it opened late last year.

The store carried a variety of adult products such as condoms, hemp products, incense and more.

Police are still searching for leads in the homicide.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call San Juan Crime Stoppers at (956) 283-TIPS.