Tyler shooting victim shot with AK-47
Posted/updated on: July 10, 2024 at 4:38 pm
TYLER – According to our news partner KETK, a 19-year-old killed in a July 4 fatal shooting in Tyler was shot with an AK-47 style rifle after his friends car made a U-turn behind Bautista Auto, an arrest affidavit showed. The affidavit describes how Rawly Sanchez, 19, and his friends had to do a U-turn when they realized Old Gladewater Highway wouldn’t take them to Montgomery Gardens. When they turned behind Bautista Auto the driver reported seeing a person in a building with an AK-47-style rifle who started shooting at them.
Rawly was hit by the rifle and his friends took him to be treated at a local hospital where he died. Around the same time a Tyler Police Department officer was driving by Bautista Auto when he saw white Ford Explorer with bullet holes in the side. When the officer came back later the Ford was gone and then Smith County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived on scene.
Corina Bautista, 35, then arrived at the scene and was questioned about the Ford. Initially, she reportedly said the car was never there but then said someone had shot at them when shown footage of the car.
Deputies went to Corina’s residence and found the Ford there. A man was seen inside and questioned. Seferino Bautista-Renteria, 35 of Tyler, said he was at the lake with his family and then went to Bautista Auto to drop off jet skis. Seferino claimed he and his son were almost hit by a truck so they went inside. According to the affidavit, Seferino said he didn’t show any guns.
Seferino’s son was questioned and he said the truck did almost hit them and his father took him inside then he went back outside. That’s when Seferino’s son said he heard gunshots outside.
Several 7.62-caliber bullet casings were reportedly found at the scene and Corina admitted there were guns at the business after initially saying there were none at the scene. The business was searched with a warrant and two AK style rifles were found in a utility terrain vehicle in a back building at Bautista Auto.
Corina and the son reportedly lost sight of Seferino while he was outside during the shooting, according to the report. He was arrested for murder and two counts of aggravated assault. He’s being held at the Smith County Jail on a total $2,800,000 bond.
His wife, Corina was arrested for tampering/fabricating with physical evidence with intent to impair. She’s being held at the Smith County Jail on a $25,000 bond.
