AUSTIN, Texas — A San Marcos man has been arrested in connection with the death of a 19-year-old from fentanyl poisoning in Kyle on Saturday.
Police said 20-year-old Isaac Arroyos was charged with felony first-degree murder over the death of 19-year-old Edgard Escobar. Arroyos is also facing a charge of felony third-degree manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance.
On Oct. 19, officers responded to a welfare concern call from a resident in the 100 block of Bellair Drive. On the scene, they found Escobar displaying signs of fentanyl poisoning. EMS medics administered CPR and Narcan, but Escobar was pronounced dead on the scene.
According to the Kyle Police Department, Arroyos was apprehended on Wednesday, Oct. 23. Police said he attempted to flee but was taken into custody a block away.
Arroyos was initially arrested for possession of a controlled substance after allegedly admitting to having THC vape cartridges. Further investigation revealed Arroyos was knowingly distributing fentanyl-laced pills, Kyle police say.
Two other victims, an 18- and 19-year-old, survived the fentanyl poisonings. Kyle police said they were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment and have since been cleared and reported stable.
Chief of Police Jeff Barnett expressed condolences to Escobar’s family.
“We are deeply saddened by another life lost to fentanyl,” he said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the victim during this difficult time. I want to commend the work of all involved for their swift response. It is through their actions that we were able to quickly apprehend Arroyos and remove one more threat from our community.”
Fentanyl can be laced in many illegal drugs, and in Kyle, police are seeing the powerful drug in pills that look similar to blue 30mg oxycodone and are typically called Percocet.