Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Cedar Park, TX: Man held in wife's slaying along Cedar Park road

Police arrested and charged a man with murder in the shooting death of his wife Tuesday morning.

Hernan Mendieta , 35, of Austin shot his wife in the head with a handgun, according to police. Her body was discovered in a car in the 3600 block of Brushy Creek Road, near West Parmer Lane, police said. Her name was not released.

Mendieta was in the Williamson County Jail on Tuesday evening with bail set at $250,000. He could face up to 99 years or life in prison if convicted.

Emergency personnel were alerted to the shooting about 10 a.m. , said Joe Granberry, deputy director of Williamson County Emergency Medical Services.

Another person was injured and taken to an area hospital, Granberry said.

Cedar Park police would not elaborate about the incident, referring a reporter to Williamson County District Attorney John Bradley, who also declined to comment.

Cedar Park police provided at least two area TV stations with further details, however.

Capt. Mike Harmon told KEYE-TV that Mendieta's vehicle hit a tree on the side of the road after he shot his wife. Harmon also told the TV station that Mendieta shot at a man who had stopped to help, and that man was injured by glass fragments from a shattered vehicle window.

The shooter fled on foot and was captured a short time later, according to the station.

After the shootings, police closed Brushy Creek Road in both directions for several hours from Arrowhead Trail west to the entrance of Silverado Springs Park.

The shootings took place near the Ranch at Brushy Creek neighborhood and several parks, including the 22-acre Silverado Springs Park.

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