Bexar County inmate charged with murder after another inmate was found dead in the cell

SAINT ANTHONY – A Bexar County Jail inmate is charged with murder after allegedly using a sock and a bandana to suffocate another inmate to death, according to Texas Rangers.

An arrest warrant was issued for Mark Anthony Wong, 52, on Saturday after the death of Curtis Raymond Smith, 66. Smith was detained in prison on a charge of assault on family injuries.

Smith was found face down and unanswered in his cell around 11:41 p.m. At the time, two other inmates, Wong and Jeremy Anthony Uriegas, 26, were inside the cell.

When officials began questioning the other inmates, Wong spoke voluntarily with an officer, according to the affidavit.

Wong told an officer Smith was “shouting obscenities” and threatened to assault him. Uriegas was lying on a cell bench at the time of the incident.

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Out of fear, Wong said he tried to keep Smith on the ground and grabbed the blue bandana around his neck, twisting it sharply, according to the Texas Rangers.

Moments later, Wong said Smith did not respond and appeared dead. According to the affidavit, Wong had grabbed one of Uriegas’ socks and put it in Smith’s mouth.

It was then that authorities were notified and they began attempting rescue measures on Smith. His efforts failed and Smith was pronounced dead at the scene.

Wong’s murder charge was added to his initial charges of aggravated assault / deadly weapon and assault / bodily harm, according to the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office.

His bond is set at $ 1,000,000 in this case and he has a pre-trial hearing scheduled for Sept. 22, according to online booking records.

San Antonio police also confirm that Wong is the same suspect involved in a Friday night shooting at his home.

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The shooting occurred at block 2400 of Wild Turkey West. Police said a man stayed at Wong’s house for a couple of days, but Wong had asked him to leave.

The man refused and an argument broke out between the two in the living room. The situation escalated when Wong grabbed a shotgun and shot the man, according to police.

Authorities said the man was found lying on the grass with several gunshot wounds, one of them to the chest. He was taken to Brooke Army Medical Center in critical condition.

Wong is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in the case on Friday night. Your bond in this case is set at $ 100,000.

This is the second murder in the Bexar County Jail since the end of May 2019.

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