Second death attributed to Spring Break violence - South Padre Island, Texas

Associated Press ^ | March 18, 2002 | A/P Staff

[MeekOneGOP]

Second death attributed to Spring Break violence

03/18/2002

Associated Press

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas - A 20-year-old man was fatally stabbed over the weekend, the second death reported in a rash of Spring Break violence in South Texas.

Jesus Espinoza of Alamo was pronounced dead at Brownsville Medical Center at 8:10 p.m. Sunday.

Police said two San Antonio men had been arrested connection with the killing so far, and other suspects and witnesses were being sought.

On Friday, 18-year-old Jerry Martinez of Aransas Pass died at the wheel of his car on Mustang Island in Port Aransas when a man apparently walked up to the car and opened fire with a handgun.

A passenger, 22-year-old Kristy Hernandez, was wounded in the leg and buttocks.

Also Friday, Benito Esquivel, 18, of Woodsboro was stabbed 11 times near Port Aransas. He was treated and released from Christus Spohn Memorial Hospital in Corpus Christi.

Two police officers received minor injuries while pursuing the 15-year-old suspect who stabbed Esquivel.

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Online at: http://www.dallasnews.com/latestnews/stories/031802dntexspringbreakviolence.db372.html

[MeekOneGOP]

Easy Link
http://www.dallasnews.com/latestnews/stories/031802dntexspringbreakviolence.db372.html

[TexasNative2000]

May I go first?

IT'S ALL THOSE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS!!!!!!

sarcasm off

[I_Love_My_Husband]

It's Darwin.

[JoeSixPack1]

When did they repair the bridge?

[PhiKapMom]

My son and his two friends went out to San Diego to see his sister who is in the Navy this year. After he dropped his truck here at the house, I took him and one of his friends back. They both said they would never go to Padre again -- not safe, too many drunks, and too many frat boys trying to impress. Now that is something since he is President of his Fraternity and his friend is a member there! Last year they lasted one day at Padre and left!

[Joe Hadenuf]

A 20-year-old man was fatally stabbed over the weekend, the second death reported in a rash of Spring Break violence in South Texas.

Good times in south Texas!

[Random Access]

Most of the real trouble makers down here are not college students. They are either high school punks or unemployed dropouts, and many are local. Many incidents are confrontations between gangs or gang wannabes. It is time to get some control over this behavior. A ban on alcohol on the beach would be a good start. Those of us that live here have about had it with this nonsense.

[RGVTx]

South Padre Island is a jewel on the Texas coast...except for during spring break.

It was really nice when the bridge was out. The traffic on the island was nearly nothing except for the shuttle vans. It was nearly a ghost town and I loved it that way. The shuttle service and ferry service was a wonderful way to travel and it was all free. There's also about 25 miles of undeveloped beach for camping and fishing. I'll tell ya about the day hubby and I caught 17 different kinds of fish in the surf if ya twist my arm a little.

Joe Sixpack I think, asked when the bridge was reopened. It was open around the first part of October last year.

Anyway, I hope the image produced by spring breakers doesn't stop anyone from visiting any other time of the year.

[stratman1969]

I remember when I was knee high and there was hardly anything on South Padre except the Sandy Retreat hotel and the Miramar, plus a few assorted beach houses and restaurants. I haven't been to South Padre in over 10 years. I'm sure it's nothing like I remember it.

[RGVTx]

Both of those are still there plus many more. A Schlitterbahn water park opened on SPI last year and there is talk of a second causeway being built at the north end of town. I might consider going to the island during spring break if there was a second causeway. I'd hit the island and head north up the beach away from the crowds. But with one causeway it can take several hours to get off the island during spring break. Been there, done that and don't ever want to do it again.

[MeekOneGOP]

Back in the late 70s, my good buddy and me went down to Port Aransas in the summer - around July 4th. We spent about 3 days there and saw two hit and run accidents in less than 24 hours. One was a truck that his a pedestrian. Fortunately the guy suffered minor injuries to his hand/wrist. We took him to the hospital for treatment. My buddy had his camera and got a picture of the truck and we gave a copy to police. It is wild down there on the beach!

[shadowboxer]

This brings utterly no comfort to me. My freshman son (Iowa State) is in South Padre Island right now with 7 friends for spring break. NOW I hear all these horror stories. Anyone with a unused prayer laying around could send it to my dopey kid...

[PhiKapMom]

Prayer sent your son's way! I must admit I was surprised when the guys from my son's fraternity decided not to go down to Padre this year but to head to the West Coast! Having lived outside of San Antonio for almost 8 years before coming to Norman, I dreaded hearing the words last year that they were going to Padre. Sounds like it hasn't changed from the 70's Meek!

[KC_Conspirator]

Hell this is nothing. I was there in 1989 Spring Break when that student was abducted in Matamoros by a drug gang and sacrificed.