FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 6, 2022
TCSO Makes Arrest in Murder on Hayride Circle Case
In the early evening hours of February 5, 2022, TCSO arrested Marcos Enrique Mendoza for the murder of Gerald Carl Vanbrakle Jr., 42 of Austin. Mendoza confessed to shooting Vanbrakle as well as a second victim, who sustained a non-life-threatening wound and was hospitalized.
At 9:35 am on February 4, 2022, deputies responded to the 16900 block of Hayride Circle in response to a 911 caller who reported shots fired and two victims with gunshot wounds. Upon arrival, deputies found Vanbrakle, obviously deceased with multiple gunshot wounds, and a Hispanic male with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. There were many witnesses on the property, and TCSO Detectives began the process of interviewing each of them individually.
Evidence at the scene and witness statements led detectives to believe the shooter was Marcos Enrique Mendoza. They then began tracking down his whereabouts. On February 5, 2022, a tip came in from a caller who said Mendoza was located on a property in East Travis County. TCSO SWAT, aided by Hays County SWAT located Mendoza, hiding on a property adjacent to the reported location. He was arrested.
Mendoza is in custody at the Travis County Jail. Bail is set at $1 million.
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Submitted By: Kristen Dark, Sr. Public Information Officer (512) 854-4986