SAN ANTONIO – A suspect accused of murder in a 2023 shooting is back in custody after Bexar County officials reported that he “failed to appear” for a court hearing and subsequently left Texas.
Linda Arzola, the mother of the victim, expressed her anguish, stating, “We’ve been waiting. I want justice, and my family wants justice.” Her son, Michael Ray Zepeda, was tragically shot and killed in November 2023, a case that has garnered significant attention in the community.
The San Antonio Police Department has provided details surrounding the incident. Reports indicate that a caller, who was close to Zepeda, informed officers that her ex-boyfriend, identified as Hernadez, was responsible for the shooting before fleeing the scene. This alarming event unfolded at an apartment complex located on the Southeast Side of San Antonio.
On the day of the incident, investigators located Hernadez’s vehicle in a nearby parking lot and observed him running from the scene. He was subsequently detained, arrested, and charged with murder. Arzola described the moment she learned of her son’s death as “the worst news that a mother could get.”
The latest hearing in Hernadez’s case was scheduled for February 23, 2026, which would have served as a pre-trial conference. However, the district attorney’s office stated that Hernadez “failed to appear,” prompting a judge to issue a warrant for his arrest the following day.
It wasn’t until recently that Hernadez was apprehended again, this time in Love County, Oklahoma, in connection with the outstanding warrant. This arrest marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing pursuit of justice for Zepeda and his family.
As the case progresses, online records indicate that Hernadez is expected to appear back in Bexar County court next week. The developments in this case continue to resonate within the San Antonio community, where calls for justice remain strong.
