Person of Interest in Murder Turns Himself In
By: Candace Hutchins
Updated: March 12, 2008
The search for Ricky Pena ended late Tuesday night. Pena was wanted for questioning in Monday night's East Lubbock murder. Pena turned himself in just after ten Tuesday night.
Ricky Pena III last lived in the 500 block of East 37th street, just one street over from where the shooting took place. Witnesses say he was there when the shot was fired and then disappeared. His family talked to him on the phone Tuesday but until he turned himself in, didn't know where he was.
Pena's dad, Ricky Pena II, says it was his car that his son had taken it out for the night. And that's the car he was in when he shot 40-year-old Joshua Sarate. At this point police are only calling Pena a person of interest, not a suspect.
Pena's family says when they spoke to Ricky, he said he was sorry and didn't mean to kill anyone. He says it was in self defense. Pena's father says the argument was over drugs and when drugs are involved people get hurt.
Police say Pena was arrested on a seperate warrant for violating his probation which is not connected to this case. The family says that's related to a police chase a while back.
