1997-11-02

August 27, 1998

Jose Cruz Alba, 40, and Kelly Marzelle Wood, 35, were indicted on charges of murder in connection with
the Nov. 2 shooting death of 46-year-old Daniel Runcie at a south Amarillo apartment complex. If convicted as charged, each man faces life in prison.

Alba remains in the Randall County Jail in lieu of a $700,000 bond. Wood remains in jail in lieu of a $500,000 bond, but he has been shipped to the Moore County Jail due to overcrowding, a jail staffer said.

Depending on the results of lab tests, prosecutors may ask a grand jury to consider indicting the two with capital murder, Criminal District Attorney James Farren said.

Court records show Wood told police the following account:

• Wood and Alba, at Alba's request, drove to the Park Lane Apartments, 4301 W. 49th Ave., early that morning to find Runcie, who was there visiting a resident.
• Runcie greeted them in the parking lot and after a brief conversation, Alba opened fire.
• The two men then left with Wood driving Alba's car and Alba unloading the two guns he allegedly used in the shooting.

April 13, 2000 Jose Alba Cruz plea

Jose Alba Cruz pleaded no contest Tuesday to a first-degree murder charge and guilty to a charge of second-degree aggravated assault.

He was accused of the Nov. 2, 1998, shooting death of 46-year-old Daniel Runcie near the Park Lane Apartments.

Runcie received two wounds from two pistols, and was pronounced
dead at Northwest Texas Hospital after the 1:30 a.m. incident.

"We believe he fired both shots, one from each pistol," Randall County Criminal District Attorney James Farren said.

District Judge Sam Kiser sentenced Alba to 30 years in prison for the murder charge and 35 years for the assault charge, which was enhanced by the use of a deadly weapon. The terms will be served concurrently.

Co-defendant Kelly Wood is out on a $25,000 bond for the killing.

"Wood didn't testify in this trial. We made him an offer but is now off the table," Farren said. "If he decided to plead this point, it would have to be for more time. The first offer was for 10 years in prison."

In a previous statement, Wood told investigators Alba requested he accompany Alba to the apartments to find Runcie, who was visiting a relative, said Lt. Ed Smith, coordinator of the Potter / Randall Special Crimes Unit.

Wood's statement also alleged the two encountered the victim in the parking lot and Alba opened fire on Runcie almost immediately.