Dispute Escalates into Fatal Stabbing in Brownsville

In the early hours of September 24, 2023, tragedy struck at the Bella Terra Apartments on Galeno Crossing when a dispute between acquaintances escalated into a fatal stabbing incident. The Brownsville Police were swiftly called to the scene.

At approximately 5:24 a.m., Brownsville Police Patrol Officers responded to a distress call regarding a stabbing. Upon their arrival, officers found two individuals outside the apartment complex parking lot – the victim, 20-year-old Rolando Reyna, and the suspect, 19-year-old Ernesto de Los Reyes.

Initial findings from the police investigation indicated that Reyna had sustained a stab wound to the chest during an altercation with Reyes, who was known to him. Witnesses present at the scene reported that the two had been engaged in a confrontational exchange throughout the night, with tensions boiling over when they ventured to the parking lot.

Further complicating the situation, witnesses informed officers that Reyes had retreated inside the apartment complex while still in possession of the knife used in the attack. Promptly, officers instructed Reyes to exit the apartment. He complied, clutching the weapon in his right hand, and was subsequently detained on an initial charge of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon.

Sadly, it was later confirmed that Rolando Reyna succumbed to his injuries while receiving medical treatment at a nearby hospital. In accordance with agency protocol, the Brownsville Police Criminal Investigations Unit descended upon the scene to meticulously process evidence and gather additional information.

Ernesto de Los Reyes, on September 25, 2023, faced a grave legal reckoning. He was arraigned on a charge of Murder in the 1st Degree, a felony, and was assigned a bond of $1 million. Additionally, Reyes had an active arrest warrant for harassment, leading to an extra $3,000 bond being issued.

The investigation is ongoing.