MCLENNAN COUNTY, Texas — The McLennan County Sheriff's Office announced the arrest of three people accused of "rampaging up and down the highway", killing one person and "brutally beating" another.
The Beltran brothers, Christopher and Matthew, and Micha Harris were booked into McLennan County Jail on Thursday, Aug 22. Christopher Beltran and Harris are charged with capital murder and aggravated robbery. Matthew Beltran is charged with tampering with physical evidence. According to the sheriff's office, the Beltran brothers are both certified members of the Crips gang.
According to the Sheriff's Office, beginning late at night on July 28, the Beltrans and Harris went to a convenience store in Hewitt. Matthew Beltran reportedly stayed in the getaway car, while his brother and Harris went into the store with guns. After the clerk gave them all the money he had, the pair "brutally" beat him and drove away, authorities said.
The three then drove down I-35 to a truck stop in Elm Mott. There, deputies say they killed the clerk in what the sheriff's office called an "execution style murder". The clerk, Dipak Oli, left behind a wife and child.
The sheriff's office said both victims were "innocent"; they didn't know the Beltrans or Harris.
Harris and the Beltrans were arrested for the "crime spree" after a four-week investigation by the McLennan County Sheriff's Office, Hewitt PD, Waco PD, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Texas Anti-gang Unit. The "breakthrough" happened when the agencies performed a raid with three search warrants.
The Beltrans had both been arrested by multiple agencies in between the murder and the raid.
The law enforcement coalition thanked the public for sharing information that lead to the arrests.
The McLennan County Sheriff's Office says the investigation is ongoing.
During their press conference, the law enforcement coalition said they want the public to know they will "never let up on these criminals" for their "horrible, soulless, sick acts".
"It affects us all", said one deputy.
You can watch the press conference here.
