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Port Arthur police arrest two men in connection with murder of 35-year-old father

Jose "Ray" Riojas was shot and killed Wednesday night in the 4500 block of Sunken Court

PORT ARTHUR, Texas — In less than 24 hours, Port Arthur police believe they've found the two men responsible for Wednesday night's murder of Jose "Ray" Riojas, 35, in Griffing Park.

Jeremy Roy, 30 and Larnell Mosley, 32,  were arrested in Port Arthur Thursday morning and taken to jail.

Their bonds are set at $750,000 each according to jail records.

Roy told one of our 12News reporters "I apologize sincerely...for causing trouble and chaos in people's lives."

Detective Mike Hebert, with the Port Arthur Police Department, says they got the men they were looking for. 

"We would like to tell the people of Griffing Park, I know that this homicide rocked their neighborhood, we are very confident that these are the two individuals who committed this murder," Hebert said.

The other suspect, Mosley, remained quiet when asked if he had anything to say. 

Investigators say they didn't stop searching for a second, following Wednesday night's deadly shooting.

Credit: Jefferson County Sheriff's Office
Larnell Mosley, left and Jeremy Roy have been charged in the shooting death of Jose "Ray" Riojas in Port Arthur.
Credit: Riojas family
Jose "Ray" Riojas was shot and killed on Sunken Court in Port Arthur on Jan. 22, 2020

Major John Owens in the Criminal Investigation Department, tells 12News it took help from everyone to get this job done.

"The Jefferson county attorney's office assisted in this. It was just good team work," Owens said.

Police say Riojas was at his home, in the 4500 block of Sunken Court, when he was shot multiple times around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.

First responders transported Riojas to the Medical Center of Southeast Texas, where he later died.

Hebert says his murder was no accident.

"This wasn't a random act of violence. These individuals went to that house to encounter our victim," Hebert said.

Officials confirmed there were others in the house when Riojas was shot.

They did not comment on if Riojas knew Roy and Mosley. 

12News spoke with Randle Fuller, who owns a barbershop near Griffing Park, who says people in Port Arthur need to stop the violence.   

"That ain't how you want to be, that ain't what you want to be," Fuller said. "The gun violence in Port Arthur definitely need to stop, definitely need to stop killing."

Even with these arrests, police say their work isn't done.

"This investigation is still ongoing, we don't want to jeopardize the investigation," Owens said. "We have to keep in mind that victim."

Roy and Mosley will be charged with first-degree murder. 

MORE | GoFundMe for Riojas' family

RELATED: One man dead following shooting in Port Arthur on Sunken Court

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