Inset: Eric Enriquez (McLennan County Jail). Background: The suburban street where Enriquez allegedly shot and killed his ex-wife”s boyfriend in Hewitt, Texas (Google Maps).
A tragic incident unfolded in Texas as a local man was formally charged this week in connection with the fatal shooting of his ex-wife’s boyfriend. The McLennan County District Attorney’s Office announced that 50-year-old Eric Renee Enriquez faces a murder charge for the death of 54-year-old George A. Turrubiartez.
The shooting took place on the night of February 5th, just outside a residence on Saddle Horn Drive in Hewitt, a quiet suburb of Waco situated approximately 100 miles northeast of Austin. As reported by local news outlets, authorities were alerted around 9 p.m. to a scene of chaos, following reports of at least 10 gunshots ringing out in the neighborhood.
When officers arrived at the scene, they discovered Turrubiartez lying lifeless in the driveway, with multiple gunshot wounds to his chest, abdomen, and a fatal shot to the head, according to the investigative documents.
In a swift response, law enforcement urged the home’s occupants to emerge, leading to Enriquez stepping out onto the porch with his hands raised. According to the arrest affidavit, Enriquez claimed he was acting in defense of his home during the confrontation.
Responding officers found Turrubiartez dead in the driveway, according to the charging document. The slain man had several gunshot wounds to his chest and abdomen – and one in the head.
After the grim discovery, police called on the inhabitants to come out of the house, whereupon Enriquez walked out onto the porch with his hands up, according to the affidavit. In quick succession, the defendant allegedly told police he was defending his home.
“Eric stated the [victim] had threatened him and that he had a right to defend himself,” the affidavit reads.
Warrants, however, suggested a different turn of events.
In one warrant obtained by the TV station, a woman identified the victim as her live-in boyfriend and the defendant as her ex-husband. That woman allegedly told detectives that Turrubiartez read a text message between her and Enriquez, got upset, and left her residence. The woman said she was tracking her boyfriend’s location and realized he seemed to be heading toward Enriquez’s house.
The defendant, for his part, told detectives he started receiving calls and text messages from Turrubiartez about his plans to show up there that night, according to the affidavit.
Using a surveillance camera, Enriquez said he saw the boyfriend pull up outside his house. So, the homeowner went outside to meet the man in the 2021 Chrysler 300.
The defendant believed “it [was] clear George [Turrubiartez] arrived at the residence to start an altercation,” according to the warrant.
After that, the victim said “motherf–,” according to Enriquez, the warrant alleges. Then, the defendant fired his weapon, police said.
Enriquez said he did not know exactly how many shots he fired, according to the warrant. Then, after the incident, the defendant said he went back into his house, unloaded his gun, and set it down on the couch. In the affidavit, police described the gun as an “assault rifle.”
The arrest warrant details a terse interaction over culpability when police later told Enriquez he was going to be charged with murder.
The defendant allegedly responded that Turrubiartez “shouldn’t have been there” on the night in question and said “he would do it again.”
A defense attorney cited by the TV station said he is gathering discovery for his client and looks forward to “building his defense.”
Enriquez is being detained in the McLennan County Jail on $750,000 bond.
