A former Univision sports anchor has been arrested on charges of murder after reportedly shooting down a relative during an argument in Texas.
According to KRIS 6 News, Johnathan Solarte, 37, who was previously Univision’s top sports anchor, shot the male relative, 35-year-old Ricardo Escobar Cardona, following an argument at a home in Corpus Christi about midnight on July 3.
According to the official police report, Solarte flagged down the responding officers as they arrived at the site.
“I called out to Jonathan and he stated that I needed to go inside to help someone. I asked him who the shooter was and he stated he was the shooter,” a responding officer stated.
Inside the house, authorities found a woman crying over Cardona, who had a gunshot wound on the left side of his chest.
The victim was taken to Bay Area Hospital, where he later died of his injuries, mySanAntonio reported.
Solarte was apprehended at the spot, according to officials.
On Wednesday, he was freed from Nueces County Jail on $300,000 bond.
He informed authorities that he was “trying to defend himself and was struggling with Ricardo at the time he was shot,” according to KRIS 6.
“Jonathan also stated that Ricardo barged into his home and began to threaten him,” the report continues.
Christian Escober, who was outside the home when authorities arrived, told police that Cardona was allowed into the residence and “everything was okay” initially.
Another witness, Martha Sanchez, said Cardona and Solarte were talking before they began arguing.
“She stated that she did not see what exactly happened when the gun went off,” according to the report.
The heinous shooting during the holiday weekend is not Solarte’s first run-in with the law: After refusing to pull over for a police officer, the Lone Star Regional Sports Emmy winner was detained and charged with resisting arrest in 2017.
According to KSAT, the district attorney eventually dismissed the charges.
According to his LinkedIn, Solarte formerly worked as a sports anchor and producer for NBC Telemundo and as a reporter on Univision Costa Central.
