Texas Rangers investigating murder on I-20 in Mitchell County
MITCHELL COUNTY, Texas — The Texas Rangers are investigating a murder on I-20 in Mitchell County.
According to the Department of Public Safety, two people were shot on the side of eastbound I-20, near Westbrook, around 6:50 a.m. Thursday.
One of them was killed. The other was transported to Hendrick Medical Center.
The brother-in-law of the deceased victim identified him as 56-year-old Noppol Pantiyanurak.
Pantiyanurak is a truck driver from California.
Family says DPS told them they believe Pantiyanurak pulled his semi-truck over after a car began flashing its lights.
DPS told Pantiyanurak's son that he was shot from behind and probably never knew what hit him.
His driving partner was also shot.
DPS said one suspect is in custody.
According to Sheriff Patrick Toombs, the suspect is 20-year-old Brandon Christopher Madrid.
Madrid, from Odessa, was taken into custody at the scene and booked into the Mitchell County Jail on Thursday afternoon.
He's charged with murder, aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Madrid's bonds total $700,000.
The murder was discovered when a trooper stopped for what appeared to be a motorist in need of assistance at mile marker 201.
