On Saturday, February 6, 2021, at approximately 11:35 pm, Brownwood Communications received a 911 call from a motorist who explained that he and his friend were driving a pickup and being shot at while driving down the road. Brownwood Police officers began traveling in the direction of the Brownwood Middle School in an attempt to locate the caller and suspect. The caller continued to update Communications of their location as they continued to drive toward the Brownwood Police Department. While on the phone, the victim stated that the driver of the suspect pickup was still firing bullets at them.
In the 2800 blk of US Hwy 377 South, Officer Kristobal Salazar observed the described vehicles traveling northbound at a high rate of speed. Officer Salazar initiated a traffic stop on the suspect vehicle and detained and identified the driver as Mustafe Thaqi, 46, of Brownwood. A 9mm pistol was located on the front seat of Thaqi’s vehicle, according to the police report.
On Sunday, February 7, 2021, at approximately 12:20 a.m, officers with the Brownwood Police Department were dispatched to a residence in the 1100 block of San Benito regarding a report of a possible domestic disturbance.
Upon arrival, Sergeant Art Shannon spoke with the homeowner in the front yard. The homeowner explained that he was woken up by the sound of loud banging coming from his son’s room. The victim entered the hallway and immediately smelled smoke inside the house. He also observed thick smoke floating in the hallway. The victim yelled for his son; wanting to know what was on fire and the son replied, “You, I’m burning you!” Upon hearing this, the victim exited the residence and phoned 911. The son was identified as 51 -year-old Joe Richard Cadena Jr.