San Antonio, Texas – Nearly a year after a violent street fight left a man fatally wounded, San Antonio police have arrested a suspect accused of murder following an argument over a stolen pair of hair clippers.
Authorities say Robert Adrian Aparicio, 34, was taken into custody early Thursday and charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of Christopher Renteria, 39, according to Bexar County court records.
Deadly confrontation on Montezuma Street
The incident dates back to January 12, when officers with the San Antonio Police Department responded to reports of a stabbing outside a residence on Montezuma Street, on the city’s west side. When officers arrived, they found Renteria lying in the roadway, bleeding heavily from multiple stab wounds to his chest and body.
Emergency responders rushed Renteria to a nearby hospital, where he remained in critical condition for months.
Victim names attacker before losing ability to speak
While being transported for medical care, Renteria was able to tell an officer that a man named “Robert” had stabbed him, according to a sworn affidavit cited by local authorities. Shortly after being admitted to the hospital, Renteria suffered cardiac arrest, which resulted in a severe brain injury.
Investigators say that injury left him unable to communicate further “in any way,” eliminating a key source of direct testimony.
Witnesses describe fight over stolen clippers
Despite the victim’s inability to provide more details, detectives relied on witness statements from the scene. Two individuals told police they saw the stabbing unfold and confirmed that the assailant was known as “Rob” or “Robert.”
According to those witnesses, the violence stemmed from an argument over a pair of hair clippers that had allegedly been stolen from Renteria. The confrontation escalated quickly.
Police say Renteria smashed the driver’s side window of Aparicio’s red Ford Ranger, prompting Aparicio to retrieve a knife from the vehicle. Investigators allege Aparicio then chased Renteria down the street until he stumbled and fell.
Once Renteria was on the ground, Aparicio allegedly stabbed him repeatedly before fleeing the area in the truck.
Surveillance footage provides crucial break
Investigators say nearby surveillance cameras captured both the attack and the suspect’s escape. The footage reportedly showed the suspect’s clothing in detail and, critically, recorded audio of a witness reading out most of the Minnesota license plate attached to the red Ford Ranger.
For months, the case remained open as an aggravated assault investigation while Renteria fought for his life.
On May 26, Renteria died from complications related to his injuries. The case was then officially ruled a homicide, and the charge was upgraded to murder.
Identifying the suspect months later
A significant break came on November 20, when a detective obtained a photograph of a man matching the suspect’s description. Police say the image showed the man wearing clothing similar to what appeared in the surveillance footage while loading tree limbs into the bed of a red truck.
Investigators traced the activity to an apartment complex where landscaping work had been performed. After contacting the property’s general manager, detectives learned the worker had responded to a Craigslist ad for tree trimming services.
Police were able to obtain the phone number used for that job and determined it belonged to Aparicio, according to the affidavit.
Witnesses confirm identity, arrest follows
On November 21, the two witnesses from the night of the stabbing were shown a photo lineup and both allegedly identified Aparicio as the attacker.
Early Thursday morning, officers arrested Aparicio without incident. He is currently being held at the Bexar County Jail on a $350,000 bond.
Case continues through the courts
Court records indicate Aparicio faces one count of first-degree murder. Prosecutors have not yet announced whether additional charges could be filed as the case moves forward.
Police emphasized that the investigation relied heavily on witness cooperation, surveillance technology, and persistent follow-up over several months.
Anyone with additional information related to the case is encouraged to contact San Antonio police or local crime stoppers.
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