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
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.
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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.
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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.
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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
So many ways to go.
Just an observation.
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.
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.
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?
Religion to blame in decapitation: suspect in murdering son believed in the devil.
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.
Ho, snap! I hadn't thought of that. I guess drugs really should stay illegal!
</sarcasm>
(/sarcasm)
Yes! Some people (on this board also) want to legalize all drugs.
Whoa! What a horrific thing. So sorry to hear that.
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