A Texas fugitive was arrested more than a month after he allegedly opened fire on his neighbors while they were holding a funeral for their family guinea pig.
John Martin Dixon, 46, was collared on Monday for allegedly shooting 18-year-old Emmanuel Menchaca in the backyard of the victim’s Houston home, putting the teen on a long road to recovery after he nearly died.
Menchaca was in the ICU for 17 days after he was shot while trying to lay his guinea pig to rest, the family’s matriarch told ABC 13.
The shooting took place in the middle of the night on July 17 after Menchaca and Dixon reportedly started to argue, though it’s still not clear what sparked the dispute.
Dixon allegedly pulled the gun on Menchaca and shot him in the torso in front of his younger brother, Evan.
Police responded the night of the shooting and seized Dixon’s gun. They also interviewed his father, and the next day Menchaca positively identified Dixon as the assailant in a photo lineup, according to court documents.
Still, no arrest was made for more than a month.
Charges were filed, though, on Aug. 8, according to the district attorney’s office. On Aug. 11, he failed to appear for a court hearing.
Then, Dixon landed himself on Texas’ Top 10 Most Wanted Fugitives list.
There was a $3,000 reward out for his arrest and he was considered “ARMED and DANGEROUS,” according to the poster.
Dixon has several convictions under his belt, including for evading arrest and marijuana possession.
He was finally arrested on Aug. 25 and charged with two counts of aggravated assault in connection with the shooting.
Menchaca’s mother said she would “prefer a higher charge” considering the extensive suffering Dixon allegedly put her family through.
“My children should’ve never gone through what they did. We’re here today to seek justice. Why did this happen?” she told the outlet.
Police are still investigating a motive for the shooting.
“We may never know the motive behind the crime but you’re always striving to get that so we’re looking at that and if we’re able to determine what it is then potentially charges can be upgraded,” Harris County District Attorney Sam Teare said.
Dixon was turned over to the Harris County jail and is set to appear in court in October.
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