Mesquite Man Arrested for Murder After Fatal Shooting Outside Garland Business on Oates Road

GARLAND, Texas - A 31-year-old Mesquite man has been arrested and charged with murder after police say he shot and killed another man outside a Garland business early Saturday morning, Oct. 17, 2026, following an argument earlier in the night.

The Garland Police Department identified the suspect as Ezequiel Hernandez, 31, who was taken into custody at a residence in Mesquite several hours after the shooting.

Officers responded to a report of a shooting at approximately 2 a.m. outside a business in the 500 block of West Oates Road.

When officers arrived, they found an adult male suffering from a gunshot wound.

Garland Fire Department paramedics responded to the scene, but the victim was pronounced dead.

The victim's identity has not been released pending notification of his next of kin.

Argument Inside Business Preceded Fatal Shooting

According to Garland police, detectives determined that Hernandez and the victim had been involved in an argument inside the business earlier that night.

Investigators believe the confrontation continued after the establishment closed.

Police said Hernandez allegedly shot the victim in the parking lot before fleeing in a white Ford F-250 pickup truck.

Authorities have not disclosed what sparked the initial argument or whether the two men knew each other before the incident.

The name of the business where the shooting occurred has not been released.

Suspect Located at Mesquite Residence

As detectives investigated the shooting, they identified Hernandez as the suspect and began searching for him and the pickup truck.

Investigators subsequently located both Hernandez and the white Ford F-250 at a residence in the 1300 block of Summit Street in Mesquite.

Hernandez was taken into custody and transported to the Garland Detention Center.

He was charged with murder, and police said no bond had been set at the time of their announcement.

The investigation remains active.