Suspect arrested in body shop murder

Brownsville police detectives arrested a 33-year-old Mexican national Wednesday in connection with the brutal slaying of a man at an East Side auto body shop.

Oscar Padilla Martinez was arrested about 4 p.m. Wednesday. He has been charged with murder and failing to report a felony offense, said Brownsville police spokesman Sgt. Jimmy Manrrique.

Police detectives alleged Padilla took part in the gruesome slaying of a man, believed to be in his late-20s to early-30. He was found dead by co-workers Tuesday morning at Bagar Auto Body Shop on the 5600 block of Coffeeport Road, Manrrique said.

Police detectives have only identified him as “Mario.”

Thursday morning police detectives obtained a second arrest warrant for a man who is also believed to be tied to the murder. He was only being identified as “Juan.”

Shortly after the murder, both suspects went to a Stripes convenience store where they bought food, Manrrique said. Police detectives obtained surveillance video of the two walking into the store.

Police detectives say the victim was an undocumented immigrant originally from Chiapas, Mexico.

A Brownsville municipal judge will arraign Padilla on the murder charge Friday morning.

For more on this story, see Friday’s edition of The Brownsville Herald.