Arrest Made In Ferris Teen's Death
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FERRIS (CBSDFW.COM) - An arrest was made Monday night in the shooting death of a recent Ferris High School graduate. Evette Marie Quezada was shot in the head early Sunday and pronounced dead at the scene.
Ellis County deputies were called to the 100 block of Newton Road in Ferris at around 2:30 a.m. on Sunday in regards to a disturbance. They arrived to find the 18-year-old former student dead inside of a car. Her brother, who was driving the car, was also injured, shot in the hand and beaten in the head. A third man at the scene had suffered lesser injuries.
The men were both transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. Quezada's brother is still there recovering, but that third man was released on Monday night. Authorities determined that he was the suspect in the shooting case.
The Ellis County Sheriff's Office identified the man as 30-year-old Frank Ortiz. He was arrested late Monday night. His bond has been set at $1 million. Investigators have not said what prompted the violence.
A friend of the Quezada family stated that Ortiz is somehow related to the victims, and the shooting happened shortly after a family reunion.
Students at Ferris High School remembered Quezada as "89 pounds of heart and determination" at a vigil on Monday night. The teenager graduated in May, and friends called her the last person they would suspect to be connected to any trouble. "I'm still in shock," said friend Carlos Martinez. "It shouldn't have happened."
A spokesman for the Ellis County Sheriff's Office explained that this case has impacted many people in the community, including many people within the department. "Being such a young girl, and we've heard nothing but good things about her, that always impacts you as a human," said Lt. James Saulter. "But we have to do what we have to do and try to set most of that aside, try to put those feelings out. But we certainly feel for the family."
Quezada's family has set up a GoFundMe page to pay for funeral expenses.