Murfreesboro, TN - In a disturbing incident that unfolded on August 17, 2020, Carmen De la Cruz, a 28-year-old resident of Murfreesboro, stands accused of fatally stabbing his uncle, Gregorio Zetino. The incident transpired following a heated argument between the two at a residence in the 1800 block of Fowler Street, as detailed by Murfreesboro Police.

According to reports, the argument escalated, leading to a tragic outcome with the loss of Mr. Zetino's life. First responders rushed to the scene on Fowler Street, where they made valiant efforts to save the victim. After administering medical aid at the scene, the victim was transported to Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital. The MPD later confirmed that Mr. Zetino, who was in his early forties, was pronounced dead shortly after the unfortunate event.

The gravity of the situation intensified when Carmen De la Cruz fled the scene in a Ford Explorer, which he subsequently crashed less than half a mile away on Sherrill Boulevard. While authorities worked to address the crash, Cruz managed to escape on foot. However, a determined police K-9 successfully tracked him down at an apartment complex on Dill Lane, a mere 0.8 miles from the crash site.

The suspect, Carmen De la Cruz, was promptly taken into custody and has been behind bars and awaiting trial since the night of the murder. Rutherford County District Attorney Jennings Jones told WGNS News...

Carmen De la Cruz, now 32 years old, is scheduled to appear in the courtroom of Judge Barry Tidwell. This tragic incident has left a lasting impact on those who lived in the immediate area of the murder scene. As noted, there was a short pursuit directly after the stabbing, followed by a vehicle crashing. Police confirmed that minutes after the crash, the suspect fled on foot, prompting a short K-9 search, which ended at an apartment complex that was exactly 1-mile from the scene of the murder.

DISCLAIMER: All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The arrest records or information about an arrest that are published or reported on NewsRadio WGNS and www.WGNSradio.com are not an indication of guilt or evidence that an actual crime has been committed.