Inmate allegedly killed fellow inmate in Texas prison

SAN ANTONIO – A man incarcerated in Bexar County faces murder charges after allegedly killing a fellow inmate last week.

According to an affidavit, an inmate accused 28-year-old Anthony McGruder of attacking him and 62-year-old Jose Barrera at the West Side facility on Aug. 13. When they arrived to check on Barrera, prison officers noticed he was unresponsive and alerted medical staff.

Medical teams arrived at the unit and began treating Barrera. According to the affidavit, San Antonio Fire Department and EMS were also en route. At 2:37 p.m., Barrera was pronounced dead by medical personnel.

Authorities said there were eight inmates in the cell at the time of the incident. The Texas Rangers have been assigned to investigate Barrera's death.

Shortly thereafter, Texas Rangers began investigating the scene and noticed abrasions in and around Barrera's “front neck area and forehead area.” According to the affidavit, when questioned by Texas Rangers, McGruder admitted to “killing a man.” A witness also told authorities that McGruder had been involved in several recent altercations with Barrera, including an incident in which McGruder allegedly choked him with a sheet.

BCSO officials said McGruder “continued to be aggressive and erratic following the incident.”

When officers examined his body, they found evidence that Barrera had died by strangulation.

According to the Texas Rangers, McGruder, who was booked into jail on March 7, has a long criminal history, including four prior assaults and an arrest for assault on a child/elderly/disabled. His bail for Barrera's murder was set at $250,000.

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