A 43-year-old Mecca resident suspected of fatally shooting two men in Thermal has been exonerated and released from custody, authorities announced Friday.
Alberto Tomas Padron was arrested at approximately 10:30 p.m. on Feb. 12 on suspicion of fatally shooting 50-year-old Oscar Romero Castro and a 47-year-old man whose name has not been released, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office.
Padron was taken into custody without incident with the assistance from the Riverside District Attorney’s Office Gang Impact Team, authorities said.
Investigators with the Riverside Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit continued their investigation following Padron’s arrest. With assistance from the public, investigators received new leads and evidence. Once they corroborated the information, they determined on Tuesday Padron was not the suspect, authorities said.
The victims had been found in a house in the 67000 block of Polk Street, near Martinez Road, late in the evening of Feb. 11, Sgt. Lance Stoyer said.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office encourages anyone with information regarding the killings to call Central Homicide Unit Master Investigator Joshua Manjarrez at 760-393-3530 or Thermal Station Lead Investigator Burgie at 951-863-8990.