Tyler pitcher Eli Sanchez throws to the plate in April 2022 in Tyler. A 2022 Tyler High graduate, Sanchez was a standout athlete who went on to coach at USA Prime East Texas. The community is mourning his tragic death. (Michel Alfaro/Tyler Morning Telegraph File)

A 19-year-old Tyler resident has died after being fatally shot on the Fourth of July. A business owner authorities believe is responsible is in jail on a first-degree murder charge.

Rawly “Eli” Sanchez, 19, died tragically in the shooting.

The community is mourning the tragic death of Sanchez, who was a Tyler High School Class of 2022 graduate. In his time at Tyler High, he was a standout member of the baseball and football teams. In 2022, the Tyler Morning Telegraph selected him as the Best Preps Tyler Sportsmanship Award winner.

“Eli is what you look for in a team captain. He is one who takes care of all of his responsibilities,” his coach said at the time. “He is someone who looks after and looks to tech and help the younger players. With everything that he does outside of baseball, he always shows up in a positive mindset ready to work.”

Before his untimely death, Sanchez was working as a baseball coach at USA Prime East Texas.

“We lost a special person. Coach Eli passed away early this morning,” USA Prime East Texas said in a Facebook post on Friday. “Eli absolutely loved the ball field, he was more competitive than anyone you could ever meet. He loved our kids and was just a kid himself. The Prime Family is praying for all of his current players, his former players, and the Sanchez family.”

Smith County deputies responded to the shooting around 10:45 p.m. at 3726 Highway 271 North near Tyler.

According to the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, deputies received information that Sanchez had been taken a local emergency room, where Tyler Police Department officers were present. Investigators responded to both the hospital and the crime scene.

The investigation revealed that Sanchez and two friends were driving on Old Gladewater Highway when they reached a dead end. As they turned around and drove behind Bautista Auto Sales, gunshots were heard, and Sanchez, sitting in the backseat, was shot in the head. His friends immediately drove him to the emergency room.

Smith County investigators identified Seferino Bautista-Renteria, 35, owner of Bautista Auto Sales, as a suspect. Bautista-Renteria was detained at his residence and taken to the Smith County Sheriff’s Office after witnesses provided further information.

County Court at Law 3 Judge Clay White issued search warrants for Bautista-Renteria’s residence and business. The Smith County Crime Scene Unit processed the scene and collected evidence.

An arrest affidavit was presented to 241st State District Judge Debby Gunter, who issued a warrant for Bautista-Renteria on charges of first-degree murder with a bond set at $1 million.

Bautista-Renteria was booked into the Smith County Jail, where he remains.

An autopsy will be conducted in Dallas.

The investigation is ongoing. More information will be reported as it is made available.