ROSWELL — The Roswell Police Department reports it has made an arrest in connection with Tuesday’s shooting death of a local man.
The victim, 20-year-old Robert Ortega III, was found dead around 2:15 p.m.
Tuesday in a bedroom of a residence in the 300 block of East Church Street in Roswell. He had suffered at least two gunshot wounds.
The victim’s roommate, identified as Daniel Joseph Sosa, 20, has been arrested, but the RPD notes its investigation remains active.
Also at the home was Sosa’s mother, 41-year-old Danny Jo Sosa. The two were taken to the Roswell Police Department for interview. At around 4 a.m. today, with both still detained at the station, Sosa was officially arrested on charges of aggravated battery, tampering with evidence, and possession of marijuana. His mother was also arrested on tampering and marijuana charges.
The RPD says that future additional charges are possible as a result of the ongoing investigation, which is being conducted as a homicide case.
Sosa told investigators he shot Ortega at least once in the back because he “thought he was the devil” and believed Ortega wanted to kill him.
He told investigators, however, that Ortega had subsequently shot himself in the head.
Police believe the Sosas took the gun used in the shooting, along with other guns at the house, and hid them. Police later found the weapons, along with three-and-a-half pounds of marijuana. The two are being held without bond at the Chaves County Detention Center.
