LYTLE, Texas – Police say a late-night exchange of gunfire at an apartment complex on Main Street sent bullets into nearby homes but did not leave anyone injured.
Officers with the Lytle Police Department responded to reports of multiple gunshots at about 11 p.m. on March 5 in the 14900 block of Main Street at the Pecan Grove Apartments.
Police said officers arrived, secured the area, and began investigating. Preliminary findings indicate that about 15 to 18 rounds were fired from two separate firearms.
Investigators said no one was hit and the shooting appeared to be a targeted event, with no indication of an ongoing threat to the general public.
Police said their investigation determined two subjects with their faces covered approached a vehicle owned by Joe Anthony Ceja, 25, while Ceja was outside.
Police said Ceja “was initially not cooperative with our investigation and gave vague statements about what occurred.”
Investigators said Ceja was hiding outside when the two masked subjects approached and that there was an exchange of gunfire “(indiscriminately, not at each other)” before the two masked subjects fled on foot.
Police said officers recovered evidence at the scene and during follow-up work the next morning.
On the night of the shooting, police said they recovered five .45-caliber spent shell casings, one 9 mm spent shell casing, and one .45-caliber bullet projectile.
During follow-ups the next morning, police said they recovered one .45-caliber bullet from an uninvolved apartment after it entered an exterior window and landed in the kitchen, and another .45-caliber bullet from an uninvolved nearby residence after it entered an exterior wall and landed inside.
Police also reported recovering two additional .45-caliber spent shell casings and eight 9 mm spent shell casings. All shell casings were recovered from around the apartment complex, police said.
Police said one suspect has been identified and taken into custody in connection with the shooting. Ceja was arrested the morning of March 6 for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, police said.
Detectives are continuing to investigate and are working to identify two additional suspects believed to be involved.
The investigation remains ongoing, and police said additional information will be released as it becomes available. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Lytle Police Department.