Update: Suspect Arrested, Charged in 2020 Fatal Assault at 2502 1/2 Elysian Street

August 23, 2024- Charges have been filed against a suspect arrested in the death of a man found at 2502 1/2 Elysian Street about 1:30 p.m. on Feb. 1, 2020. The suspect, Miguel Angel Moreno, 62, is charged with murder in the 488th State District Court. A 2022 booking photo of Moreno, who is in custody, is attached to this news release.

He is accused in the death of Jose Luis Mesta, 55.

HPD Homicide Division Detectives T. Colbert, M. Barrow and J. Caten reported:

Patrol officers responded to a person down call at the above address and found an unresponsive male, later identified as Mr. Mesta, inside an apartment. He had suffered blunt force trauma to his body.

Witnesses told officers they went to check on the victim after not hearing from him. They found his apartment unlocked and the victim unresponsive. The witnesses then called 911. Paramedics pronounced the man deceased at the scene.

Further investigation and evidence identified Moreno as the suspect in this case. He was subsequently charged on Thursday (Aug. 22).

Moreno is currently in custody on a separate felony charge.