Murder suspect claims self defense, surveillance footage captures shooting

MISSION, Texas ( ValleyCentral ) — Documents revealed new details in the murder of a Mission man whose death stemmed from his alleged killer attempting to drop off a slice of birthday cake to his girlfriend.

Esdras Elias Ortiz, 26, is accused of killing 27-year-old Yorman Jovani Reta on July 1 at the 2800 block of Dinastia Dorado Street.

A probable cause affidavit obtained by ValleyCentral, stated that a woman and her boyfriend, identified as Reta, were in the kitchen at their residence when they heard a knock at their side door.

Reta went to see who it was and was greeted by Ortiz who said he wanted to drop off some of his birthday cake to Reta’s girlfriend, police said at a news conference. Ortiz and the woman were friends, according to police.

The woman told officers she heard an argument ensue between the two men followed by several gunshots.

She said she went outside to find her boyfriend on the ground with gunshot wounds and barely breathing. The woman also said she saw Ortiz with a gun and he continued to advance toward Reta to shoot him again. The victim’s girlfriend said she was able to overpower Ortiz to prevent him from shooting her boyfriend again. Ortiz left the area shortly after.

He was later found at the 1500 block of Judy Street in Mission along with the murder weapon. When confronted by police, Ortiz admitted to shooting Reta in “self defense,” the affidavit stated.

Back at the scene of the crime, police found six 9mm spent bullet casings near the victims body.

The next morning, a detective obtained surveillance video from a neighbor’s cameras which revealed Ortiz began to walk away from Reta before shooting him. He is then seen turning around and firing rounds at the victim.

Reta suffered several gunshot wounds to his head and to the left side of his body. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

On July 3, Ortiz was charged with murder, a first degree felony and his bond was set at $2 million. The judge said this crime is punishable by five to 99 years with an additional fine between $5,000 and $10,000, if convicted.

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