SUSPECT IN CUSTODY AFTER SHOTS FIRED IN VERIBEST

At approximately 7:03 PM on February 18, 2026, deputies with the Tom Green County Sheriff's Office responded to a reported shooting in the Talon Lane area, located north of the community of Veribest in Tom Green County.

Upon arrival, deputies located a gunshot victim suffering from multiple injuries. The victim was airlifted to Shannon Medical Center for treatment. Preliminary investigation indicates the incident stemmed from a domestic-related disturbance involving Gerardo Santos, 29, of San Angelo, who arrived at the residence and initiated a confrontation with a male subject that quickly escalated to gunfire. Santos fled the scene in a vehicle prior to the arrival of law enforcement.

Deputies developed sufficient probable cause to obtain an arrest warrant for Santos for the offense of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, a second-degree felony. Santos' vehicle was later located at an address in the 1800 block of Koberlin. The Sheriff's Office Special Response Team, along with the San Angelo Police Department SWAT team, conducted a search of the residence with negative results.

At approximately 1:50 AM, subsequent information was obtained concerning the location of Santos.    Santos was located in the 100 block of South Chadbourne and taken into custody by the San Angelo Police Department.

The victim is currently reported to be in critical condition at Shannon Medical Center. The investigation remains active, and Santos is currently being held at the Tom Green County Detention Center.

The Tom Green County Sheriff's Office wishes to thank the San Angelo Police Department, the San Angelo Fire Department, and the Texas Department of Public Safety for their assistance in this investigation.