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Brother: Drugs to blame in shooting - suspect in murdering 5 in family was doing crack cocaine
The Dallas Morning News ^ | August 7, 2002 | By ROBERT THARP / The Dallas Morning News

Posted on 08/07/2002 3:36:48 AM PDT by MeekOneGOP


Brother: Drugs to blame in shooting

Relative says man accused of killing family was addicted to crack

08/07/2002

By ROBERT THARP / The Dallas Morning News

Abel Ochoa went to church Sunday and spent the afternoon with his family. Then he smoked crack cocaine in the back yard of his home before a shooting spree that left his wife, two daughters and two in-laws dead, Mr. Ochoa's brother said Tuesday.

Gabriel Ochoa said his brother had long battled an addiction to crack and had tried to kick the habit "but just couldn't."

By phone from the Lew Sterrett Justice Center, where he was being held on capital murder charges, Mr. Ochoa, 29, told his brother that he felt "separated from himself" and didn't know what he was doing when the shootings occurred.

There were no arguments among the family before the shooting, Gabriel Ochoa said.

"The drugs are to blame," he said.

*
Crystal Ochoa, 7, and Ana Ochoa, 9 months, were among the five shot to death.

Mr. Ochoa told his brother that after shooting his wife, Cecilia Ochoa, 32, and daughters Crystal Ochoa, 7, and 9-month-old Ana Ochoa, he hesitated but continued, shooting his father-in-law, Bartolo Alvizo, and sister-in-law Jacqueline Saleh.

Another sister-in-law, 27-year-old Alma Alvizo, was seriously wounded in the shooting. She remained in critical condition Tuesday.

*
Cecilia Ochoa

Abel Ochoa could not be reached for comment in jail, where he was being held in lieu of $2 million bail. His attorney, Geoff Henley, said that he had not seen the evidence against Mr. Ochoa and that it was too early to talk about plans for a defense.

Police have declined to discuss what may have led to the killings.

Abel Ochoa's drug addiction began a few years ago when a woman with whom he was having an affair introduced him to crack cocaine, Gabriel Ochoa said.

"From then on he kept doing it," he said. "He was in rehab. He wanted to stop but just couldn't."

Relatives of Ms. Ochoa declined to comment Tuesday.

Gabriel Ochoa said he had not talked to Cecilia Ochoa's relatives, who were keeping watch over Ms. Alvizo at Methodist Medical Center and making funeral arrangements.

According to police reports, Mr. Ochoa opened fire inside his central Oak Cliff house about 6 p.m. Sunday. The family had gathered there after attending church and visiting Gabriel Ochoa at his home.

*
Abel Ochoa

Mr. Ochoa fled the home, leaving a loaded semiautomatic handgun in the house, police said. Ms. Alvizo was wounded in the shoulder, arm and side but managed to stumble across the street for help.

"We're just trying to figure everything out," Gabriel Ochoa said.

Mr. Henley said he had an emotional meeting with his client.

"He also grieves the loss of his family," Mr. Henley said. "He cried periodically in the course of our discussions."

He said he was concerned that a lawyer was not present when Mr. Ochoa gave a statement to police or when a jail psychiatrist screened him.

"It's far too early for anyone to rush to judgment," he said. "It's impossible to frame a defense when you don't know what it is you're being charged with."

Cynthia Vega of WFAA-TV contributed to this report.

E-mail rtharp@dallasnews.com


Online at: http://www.dallasnews.com/localnews/stories/080702dnmetfivedead.bbe63.html


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Front Page News; News/Current Events; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: dallas; murder; oakcliff; ochoa; texas
He'll be put away for quite a while, and likely will face the death penalty, imho.
1 posted on 08/07/2002 3:36:48 AM PDT by MeekOneGOP
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To: MeeknMing
Drugs to blame in shooting
News Flash...
Abel Ochoa to blame in shooting.
2 posted on 08/07/2002 3:40:09 AM PDT by philman_36
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To: MeeknMing
I don't understand the need to blame "something" for the actions of a person.
3 posted on 08/07/2002 3:41:07 AM PDT by philman_36
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To: MeeknMing
They may as well have said...
Weapon to blame in shooting.
4 posted on 08/07/2002 3:42:11 AM PDT by philman_36
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To: MeeknMing
If he would've stabbed them with a knife then it should read...
Knife to blame in stabbing.
Car to blame in hit and run.
Plastic bag to blame in suffocation.
Penis to blame in rape.

So many ways to go.

5 posted on 08/07/2002 3:44:48 AM PDT by philman_36
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To: MeeknMing
Does anyone else notice that Hispanics seem to be responsible/involved for all the latest kidnappings/murders lately?

Just an observation.

6 posted on 08/07/2002 4:02:45 AM PDT by Pern
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To: MeeknMing
some people want to legalize drugs, but have no idea the incredible evil that crack and crystal can carry with them. If you've ever had a problem with that stuff, or if you have a close friend or family member who had a problem, and you saw their problem clearly as a person close to them, then you don't favor legalizing this stuff.

A few years ago there was a case near where I live where a man strung out on crystal thought his 14 year old son was inhabited by the devil, so he cut off his son's head. You legalize this stuff and you would greatly increase the misery among us from these drugs.

7 posted on 08/07/2002 4:38:17 AM PDT by Red Jones
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To: Red Jones
some people want to legalize drugs

No, some people (including me) want to legalize marijuana, not this crap.

I have a cousin sitting in jail right now because of crack. He stole from all his relatives for money to feed his habit, but in the end he stole from the wrong person. Now he's 3 years into an 8 year sentance.

8 posted on 08/07/2002 4:58:51 AM PDT by Pern
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To: Pern
legalize marijuana, yes that is good. Marijuana does harm to people, but only mild damage by comparison.
9 posted on 08/07/2002 5:08:28 AM PDT by Red Jones
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To: Red Jones
The number of stupid, awful and tragic things people do on drugs is trivial compared to what is done by people who are drunk.

Do you or don't you favor a return to prohibition? If not, why not? Wouldn't it make all of those tragedies go away?

10 posted on 08/07/2002 5:14:03 AM PDT by Physicist
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To: Red Jones
A few years ago there was a case near where I live where a man strung out on crystal thought his 14 year old son was inhabited by the devil, so he cut off his son's head.

Religion to blame in decapitation: suspect in murdering son believed in the devil.

11 posted on 08/07/2002 5:17:03 AM PDT by Physicist
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To: Pern
Does anyone else notice that Hispanics seem to be responsible/involved for all the latest kidnappings/murders lately?

well no. actually i've noticed more whites involved, esp. in regards to recent crimes against children (westerfield in san diego van damm case; ricchi - the main suspect in the utah case; the homeless guy accused of killing little casey after staying overnight in her father's house; the native american killed after abducting the 2 teenagers here in so cal...) in fact the only hispanic i can recall is alejandro avila in the runnion case, though my memory may be faulty.
at any rate, death is too good for these guys.

12 posted on 08/07/2002 5:29:04 AM PDT by kim r.
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To: MeeknMing
But...but...but, our Libertarian Friends all tell us that it is immoral to keep drugs illegal! There must be a mistake! It must be because President Bush is ignorant and Brown isn't president!
13 posted on 08/07/2002 6:11:44 AM PDT by Redleg Duke
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To: Physicist
Legalizing drugs will not make the problems associated with alcohol go away.
14 posted on 08/07/2002 7:22:08 AM PDT by robertpaulsen
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To: Physicist
alcohol is nothing compared to crack or crystal. that's my opinion. I don't favor prohibiting alcohol distribution.
15 posted on 08/07/2002 7:36:51 AM PDT by Red Jones
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To: robertpaulsen
Legalizing drugs will not make the problems associated with alcohol go away.

Ho, snap! I hadn't thought of that. I guess drugs really should stay illegal!

</sarcasm>

16 posted on 08/07/2002 7:43:52 AM PDT by Physicist
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To: Physicist
No, no, no! Let's add to the problem!

(/sarcasm)

17 posted on 08/07/2002 7:55:42 AM PDT by robertpaulsen
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To: Pern
No, some people (including me) want to legalize marijuana, not this crap.

Yes! Some people (on this board also) want to legalize all drugs.

18 posted on 08/07/2002 7:58:07 AM PDT by cinFLA
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To: philman_36
LOL ! Liberals to blame for assigning external causes
in place of assuming personal responsibility for one's actions......

19 posted on 08/07/2002 9:42:02 AM PDT by MeekOneGOP
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To: Red Jones
A few years ago there was a case near where I live where a man strung out on crystal thought his 14 year old son was inhabited by the devil, so he cut off his son's head. You legalize this stuff and you would greatly increase the misery among us from these drugs.

Whoa! What a horrific thing. So sorry to hear that.

20 posted on 08/07/2002 9:44:52 AM PDT by MeekOneGOP
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