Guadalupe County Sheriff's Office

08/13/2026

Early this morning, August 13, 2026, Guadalupe County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a disturbance in the 400 block of Hurst Lane.

At about 2:43 a.m., deputies were dispatched after a male caller reported a disturbance and said “he is going to kill her.”

Deputies arrived within seven minutes. After hearing screaming from inside the residence, they made entry and found a 46-year-old man holding a knife to a 55-year-old woman’s neck.

Deputies ordered him to drop the knife. He refused. Deputies discharged their fi****ms, striking the man. He died from his injuries.

The woman was not injured. No deputies or anyone else inside the residence were hurt.

Names are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

As is customary, the Texas Rangers are conducting an independent investigation of the incident. Questions about the investigation should be directed to the Texas Department of Public Safety Public Information Office.

08/09/2026

Early this morning, one man was fatally shot in the 5000 block of Crossover Road in San Marcos.

At approximately 1:58 a.m. on August 9, deputies responded to a shots fired call. While en route, multiple callers reported shots fired and a male down in a driveway.

San Marcos police arrived first and located Sergio Raynaldo Mata, 32, who had been shot multiple times. He was pronounced deceased at 2:16 a.m.

Guadalupe County deputies identified Miguel Angel Marquez, 21, as the shooter. He was detained at the scene. Several rounds also struck a vehicle and residence across the street; an adult male inside was uninjured.

Marquez was later arrested by Guadalupe County Sheriff's Investigators and booked into the Guadalupe County Adult Detention Center on charges of Murder and Deadly Conduct.

The investigation is ongoing.

08/08/2026

Sheriff Joshua Ray is calling on Texas lawmakers to strengthen penalties for s*x offenders and s*xual assault crimes. Our office sees the impact of these crimes firsthand and current punishments don't always match the harm done to victims and our community. Read more about Sheriff Ray's call for tougher legislation below. 👇

Sheriff Joshua Ray wants lawmakers to increase penalties for s*xual assault offenses and is urging Texans to contact their state representatives.

08/07/2026

Guadalupe County,

On Tuesday I asked Commissioners Court for permission to terminate our contract with Flock Safety, and the court approved it. I want to be straight with you about why, because I've said publicly these cameras are a good law enforcement tool. I still believe that. They've helped us find stolen vehicles, locate missing people, catch criminals, and close cases.

My opinion of the technology hasn't changed. What changed is the cost.

Cameras across our county have been vandalized. The City of Seguin has had theirs vandalized as well. This is happening in communities elsewhere too. Under our current agreement, replacing damaged cameras falls on the county, and I refuse to spend your tax dollars replacing equipment that is likely to keep getting torn down.

We're also still being billed every month for cameras that don't work. That means paying to put them back up, paying again when they come down, and paying the monthly bill in between the whole time.

Here's the math:

Staying in the contract: $57,000+ for the remainder of the term
Terminating now: $8,500, one time
Net savings to the county: $48,500+

I'm not spending $57,000 of your money on equipment that won't be standing next year.

Our county is facing a budget shortfall, and every dollar I don't spend here is a dollar that can go toward deputies, equipment, and calls for service. This was a business decision, not a change of heart.

One more thing: destroying public safety equipment is a crime. Those cases are still open, and we're still working them. If you damage property that does not belong to you, you will be arrested and prosecuted.

I'll always tell you where your money goes and why.

Joshua O. Ray
Sheriff, Guadalupe County

08/06/2026

I've spent more than 25 years in law enforcement, essentially my entire adult life. Before you elected me as the 33rd Sheriff of Guadalupe County, I had the privilege of serving 22 years with the Texas Department of Public Safety, finishing my career with the Texas Rangers. In that time I worked cases involving children that I won't describe here.

What I can tell you is what happened afterward. Offenders served a few years and walked back into our communities. Some were only placed on probation.

Texas law allows this, and it is an injustice to victims who may carry it for the rest of their lives. I'm asking the Legislature to fix it. Other states have already raised their penalties. It's time for Texas to do the same.

This week I submitted formal recommendations to our representatives in the 90th Texas Legislature. Here's what I proposed:

🔸 Indecency with a Child — raise from 2nd/3rd degree felony to 1st degree
🔸 Sexual Assault — raise from 2nd degree (2–20 years) to 1st degree (5–99 years or life)
🔸 Sexual Assault of a Child — raise from 2nd degree to Capital Felony (life without parole)
🔸 Affirmative Defense Age — raise from 14 to 16. A 14-year-old cannot consent.

I sent the full packet — with exact statutory language and legal analysis — to:

State Sen. Donna Campbell (District 25)
State Rep. Alan Schoolcraft (District 44)
State Sen. Judith Zaffirini (District 21)
State Sen. Roland Gutierrez (District 19)

Here's where I need you. Legislators hear from sheriffs all the time. What moves a bill is hearing from voters back home.

📞 Sen. Donna Campbell — District 25 New Braunfels: (830) 626-0065 | Capitol: (512) 463-0125 Email: senate.texas.gov/member.php?d=25 Mail: P.O. Box 12068, Austin, TX 78711

📞 Rep. Alan Schoolcraft — District 44 Capitol: (512) 463-0602 Email: house.texas.gov/members/4745/email Mail: P.O. Box 12910, Austin, TX 78711

📞 Sen. Judith Zaffirini — District 21: (512) 463-0121

📞 Sen. Roland Gutierrez — District 19: (512) 463-0119

I've sat across the table from these families. I've watched offenders receive sentences that insulted the children who testified against them. What a s*xual predator takes cannot be given back.

We owe it to our families to hold s*xual predators accountable. We owe it to our children to protect them.

We can do better than this in Texas. Let's get it done.

— Sheriff Joshua O. Ray, Guadalupe County Sheriff's Office

08/05/2026

🚨WANTED WEDNESDAY 🚓

The Guadalupe County Sheriff's Office needs YOUR help locating this fugitive:

Andrew Marcos Cruz

Charges:

Arson – Reckless Damage to a Building / Recklessly Causing Bodily Injury or Death

If you know the whereabouts or have information:

📲 GCSO: 830-379-1224

🫥 Anonymous Tips: guadalupecountycrimestoppers.org or www.p3tips.com/TipForm.aspx?ID=808&C=C9302C&T=

☎ Or call 1-877-403-8477 (TIPS)

💸Cash rewards are available through Crime Stoppers for tips leading to an arrest

🔄 Share this post—your tip could make a difference!

08/05/2026

🚨 Training in Progress – No Cause for Alarm 🚨

Today only, Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Office is conducting essential tactical training at the former McQueeney Elementary School campus, 8860 FM 725, McQueeney, Texas.

You may see marked units, officers in tactical gear, and training activity in and around the campus.

‼️ This is a controlled training exercise — there is no real emergency. ‼️

We remain committed to keeping our community safe through continuous, realistic preparation.

Thank you for your understanding and support.

07/31/2026

🚓FUGITIVE FRIDAY🚨

Luke Adam Peyton

The Guadalupe County Sheriff's Office needs YOUR help locating this fugitive.

Charges:

Motion to adjudicate guilt-Aggravated Assault w/Deadly Weapon & Deadly Conduct

If you know his whereabouts or have information:

☎️GCSO: 830-379-1224

📲Anonymous Tips: guadalupecountycrimestoppers.org

📞Or call 1-877-403-8477 (TIPS)

💸Cash rewards are available through Crime Stoppers for tips leading to an arrest.

✅Share this post—your tip could make a difference!

07/31/2026

Yesterday, we welcomed a new Deputy to the Guadalupe County Sheriff's Office!

Sheriff Joshua Ray administered the Oath of Office to our newest deputy, Gabriel Chavez. Deputy Chavez will be joining our Patrol Division under the leadership of Captain Carl Spriegel.

We’re proud to welcome him as he begins serving and protecting the residents of Guadalupe County.

Congratulations, Deputy Chavez

07/28/2026

🏫Community Safety Partnership in Action🏫

Today, deputies from the Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Office delivered ALERRT CRASE (Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events) training to the staff at the South Texas Pregnancy Care Center in Seguin.

This free, research-based course equips civilians with practical strategies—Avoid, Deny, Defend—to increase their chances of survival during an active shooter event. Our goal is simple: help our community partners prepare before the unthinkable happens.

We are grateful to the South Texas Pregnancy Care Center team for prioritizing the safety of their staff and the families they serve. Partnerships like this strengthen our entire community.

If your business, church, school, or nonprofit would like to schedule CRASE training, please contact the Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Office. We’re here to help.