Roommate Arrested in Machete Homicide

A 24-year-old man was arrested in connection with Saturday's homicide.

Candelario Herrera-Vazquez, of 1410 East 140th Avenunue, Apartment D, was arrested Sunday, July 22, in Ocala after boarding a bus bound for Mexico, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. He is facing a first-degree murder charge.

Authorities say Herrera-Vazquez killed his roommate with a machete following an early morning argument. The body of the roommate, only described as a Hispanic male, was later discovered in a locked bedroom by another resident. The dead man had trauma to his upper body.

"During the course of the investigation, detectives learned that the suspect
had fled the Tampa area to Sarasota County and had discarded the murder weapon (machete) in a nearby public trash can, which was later discovered by the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office Department," Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Debbie Carter said in a news release. "The defendant then purchased a bus ticket to Mexico and boarded a bus in Wimauma with one stop in Ocala."

Marion County Sheriff's deputies intercepted and detained Herrera-Vazquez until Hillsborough officials could arrive.