Sunday, June 21, 2009

West Side murder


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Please step forward and let the authorities know.

Man slain at West Side home
By Alejandra Hering - Express-News

The cause of death for a 43-year-old man found outside a West Side home Saturday has not been confirmed, but authorities say he was murdered.

Jesus Ponce, a tile setter, was found in the front yard of the home in the 500 block of South San Augustine Avenue. San Antonio police spokesman Joe Rios said a 911 call alerted police around 3:30 p.m. to the body, which had suffered trauma.

Police are in the process of talking to witnesses, Rios said.

Ponce's nephew, Juan Carreon, said his uncle lived blocks from the house, which he said was a neighborhood hangout. He said gatherings there would get rowdy from time to time.

“He had been hanging out there for years, he knew all of them,” he said. “From what I hear, there were a few fights, but nothing serious.”

Nora Bravo, a neighbor, said the group often would get together to drink at the house but that disputes were “never to this extreme.”

“It's better here in the neighborhood than out there where they could hurt themselves,” said Bravo, 39. “As we can see, it's not as safe as we thought.”

She said Ponce was a friendly neighbor who was always singing and laughing.

“If you were feeling down and out, he'd come around and put a smile on your face. He's going to be greatly missed.”