Police: Man fatally shot ex-girlfriend and then himself

For the second time in less than a week, San Marcos Police are involved in investigating a murder by gun. But unlike last week’s shooting death, this time they are not searching for the culprit — the case is being handled as a murder/suicide.

Officers responded to a call of shots fired with one person shot in the head Sunday morning on Hilltop Drive in the Hills of Hays subdivision. 

In a press release, the city said “witnesses advised” Brihana Landrum, 24, was shot once in the head by her on-again, off-again boyfriend Adrian Diaz, 28. Diaz fled the scene and Landrum’s family members attempted to take her to the hospital, however, “Landrum’s wounds were fatal and she died before making it to the hospital.”

A short time later, while officers were still at the murder scene, a call came in for EMS to respond to Guadalupe County, where a man found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound turned out to be Diaz.

“The description of the vehicle matched that of the vehicle in which Diaz was seen leaving the crime scene,” the city’s press release said.                            

San Marcos Police are investigating the murder but would not answer any additional question on Monday, the press release said. The suicide is being investigated by the Guadalupe County Sheriff’ Office but no one could be reached there on President’s Day to give an exact location where Diaz was found.

The case marked the second homicide of the year for San Marcos Police.

On Monday, Oct. 11, Texas State University student Aaron “Jack” Jackson Peterson was fatally shot in the head during what police say was a botched drug deal. His body was found by a family member two days later and two days after that, 23-year-old Martin Garcia Jr. of Austin and 19-year-old James Lee Zapata of Kyle were arrested and charged with capital murder. 

That murder occurred at the Park North Condos on Aquarena Springs Drive, the same location where a 27-year-old man was found dead in the parking lot in August, 2018. Two brothers were later arrested and charged in that case.