WICHITA, Kan. (KAKE) - Wichita police have confirmed the suspect arrested at the border in El Paso, Texas on Monday is wanted for the fatal shooting of a 42-year-old man at a hotel last year.

Officer Chad Ditch identified the suspect as Patricio Gomez. Booking records in El Paso show he's being held on a fugitive from justice warrant. 

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said an agent saw someone walking along the border barrier Monday evening. He told agents he had just entered the United States from Mexico by attempting to drive his truck across the Rio Grande. The agency discovered he had an active warrant for murder.

Gomez was taken into custody and transported to jail in El Paso County. He's is awaiting extradition to Wichita.

Courtesy US Border Patrol El Paso Sector
Courtesy US Border Patrol El Paso Sector  

Gomez is accused in the death of Michael Martinez at the at the Extended Stay America in east Wichita on September 30. Police said Gomez and a woman, Shae Marie Roberts, arrived at the hotel regarding an illegal drug transaction and Martinez was shot during a disturbance. 

Gomez and Roberts fled in an SUV, which was located the next day in Park City.

Roberts was arrested in October and remains jailed for first-degree murder in commission of a felony and drug distribution.  

Shae Roberts (left) and Patricio Gomez
Shae Roberts (left) and Patricio Gomez  


Kansas Department of Corrections records show Gomez has prior convictions of attempted second-degree murder, two counts of aggravated battery and four counts of criminal discharge of a firearm. He was last paroled to Reno County in November 2020. His post-release expired in May 2021.