Houston murder suspect on the run arrested in Elsa

ELSA — A fugitive task force arrested a murder suspect who had been on the run for more than nine months after allegedly stabbing a man to death in Houston.

Investigators from the Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Fugitive Task Force — headed by the U.S. Marshals Service — arrested Angel F. Cantu, 19, on Tuesday at an apartment complex in Elsa, according to a news release from the federal agency.

Houston police believe Cantu fatally stabbed Houston resident Angel Cuevas, 28, on Feb. 6 after a fight broke out at Cantu’s apartment over money owed. Cuevas apparently borrowed money from the murder suspect.

Cantu began beating Cuevas and, at some point, Cuevas attempted to jump out of the apartment through a closed window, police said. Cantu stopped Cuevas from fleeing and stabbed him multiple times with a knife, killing him. A judge pronounced Cuevas dead at the scene.

Two male teens accused of trying to steal the victim’s truck have already been charged in connection with the homicide, investigators said.

Task force officers received information Tuesday that indicated Cantu was residing at an apartment complex in the 600 block of E. Third Ave. Investigators began surveillance at the location and were able to arrest him after positively identifying him.

The task force comprises officers from various law enforcement agencies, including U.S. Marshals Service; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; Texas Department of Criminal Justice; U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Hidalgo County and Starr County sheriff’s offices, and police departments in McAllen, Mission, San Juan and Weslaco.

Cantu is in custody at the Hidalgo County Jail pending relocation to Houston.

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Naxiely Lopez covers law enforcement and general assignments for The Monitor. She can be reached at naxil@themonitor.com and (956) 683-4434.

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