HCSO asks for public’s assistance in ongoing homicide investigation

HOUSTON COUNTY, Ga. — At 11:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve, deputies with the patrol division of the Houston County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of shots fired in the Red Fox Run community in Warner Robins. When they arrived, they found two men, 34-year-old Miguel Angel Ochoa Montes and 45-year-old Avelino Rivera, dead.

The scene quickly became that of a homicide investigation. Following up, Lieutenant Matt Moulton of the Sheriff’s Office provided The Journal additional details.

“”We are still in the process of analyzing physical evidence that was collected at the scene,” Moulton said. “We are actively investigating this, trying to identify the suspect or suspects related to the homicides.”

As of print time Friday, Moulton said there was no narrative to describe exactly what have happened, but that it potentially could have been a drug deal gone bad, as investigators found an amount of drugs at the scene.

Moulton also told The Journal that it’s currently believed that a handgun was used in committing the crime, but it has not been found.

“There were other handguns located at the scene, and other firearms — a rifle, a shot gun,” Moulton explained. “We don’t believe any of the firearms that were located at the scene was the firearm used to commit the crime.

While the victims were seemingly unrelated, Moulton said that HCSO believes they may have been friends.

In the initial story printed, The Journal reported that both bodies were being transported to the GBI Crime Lab for autopsies. Both autopsies confirmed that Montes and Rivera died due to their gunshot wounds.

Finally, The Journal asked if HCSO had concerns that these homicides were related to gang activity in Houston County.

“I think with the area and the drug involvement there’s always a possibility that it could be gang-related, but there’s nothing right now that is a glaring red flag that tells us that’s what it is.”

Finally, Moulton asked that any locals in the area share what information they have to assist in the investigation.

“If you know something, please call us,” Moulton said. “There’s very little we do know right now just because of the lack of cooperation from the community, the Hispanic community. My plea would be if someone out there knows something, please call us, or contact Crimestoppers, and let us know what information you have no matter how big or small it is. It could be something that we’re looking for that could help us break this case.”

If you have any information, the sheriff’s office encourages you to contact the Houston County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division at (478) 542-2085 or Macon Regional Crimestoppers at 1 (877) 68CRIME.

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