A nationwide manhunt is under way for the gunman believed to have killed a Cotten Apartment resident in his home Friday night.
The suspected murderer, Gregorio Arenas, is considered armed and dangerous and is wanted on criminal homicide charges.
He was added to the TBI’s Top 10 Most Wanted list Tuesday afternoon with a $1,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.
Arenas is described as 5-foot-3 and approximately 125 pounds. He was last seen driving a red Pontiac with Tennessee tag 555-JPH. His last known address is 1350 Viola Road, McMinnville.
The victim, Albertano Guerro Trejo, 29, was shot dead in his Cotten Apartment residence off Cascade Avenue around 9:30 p.m. Friday. He was killed by a single shot to the chest from a 9mm handgun allegedly wielded by Arenas.
Trejo was reportedly inside the apartment when Arenas knocked on the door. Trejo came to the door, an argument erupted, and Trejo was shot and killed.
Police found the victim dead on the apartment floor when they arrived. The victim’s roommates denied seeing anything, telling officers they were in different areas of the small apartment when the shooting occurred.
“Mr. Arenas is believed to have left the area and is considered armed and dangerous,” said McMinnville Police Chief Bryan Denton. “Do not try to approach him. Contact your local authorities if you see him.”
Arenas is believed to have fled the state after the shooting and may try to leave the country since he is not a legal U.S. citizen, even though he lived in Warren County for several years.
The motive for the killing has not been revealed, although police say the victim and killer did know one another.
Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Arenas is urged to call the TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND.