Posted on 04/29/2003 6:19:20 AM PDT by Theodore R.
Two Border Patrol agents wounded Pair caught in cross-fire between rival gangs
BY CELINA ALVARADO Times staff writer
A Laredo man was arrested and charged Monday with the attempted murder of two U.S. Border Patrol agents in a late Sunday night shooting in the Ladrillera neighborhood, at the 2400 block of Boston.
The shooting suspect, 18-year-old Jesus Arias, Jr., from the 3700 block of Pinder Avenue, was arrested at the 2300 block of Pierce by officers from the Laredo Police Department, Webb County Sheriff's Department and U.S. Border Patrol, backed by a Border Patrol helicopter crew.
The suspect, Jesus Arias, Jr., who was allegedly arrested in 2002 for vandalism, became a wanted individual overnight after he allegedly attempted to murder two U.S. Border Patrol Agents Sunday night at about 11:30 p.m. Border Patrol officials declined to identify the shooting victims.
According to reports, it was a Laredo Police patrolman who first recognized Arias, after the suspect's Oct. 2002 mug shot, was released Monday by officials, along with a warrant for his arrest, said Investigator Jorge Maldonado, with the Crimes Against Persons division.
The officer first gave chase to the suspect on foot, then requested the help of U.S. Border Patrol agents Monday afternoon, officials reported.
According to the investigator's reports, a witness at the scene then advised the patrolman of the location of the suspect.
Thereafter, a fleet of investigators arrived at the scene in the 2300 block of Pierce, and corralled the suspect with the help of several sheriff's department, Border Patrol and Laredo Police Department officials and took the suspect into custody.
Officials reported Monday they were unsure whom the residence belonged to and that the case is still under investigation.
The two Border Patrol agents remained unnamed, but a supervisor identified them as both 32. The agents were driving an unmarked vehicle, a white-colored F-250, when caught in a crossfire between two rival gangs Sunday, said Investigator Jorge Luna, also with the Crimes Against Persons division.
"They were at the wrong place at the wrong time," Luna said.
According to reports, one agent was shot in the right arm and the other received gunshot wounds to his upper torso.
The victims were allegedly shot at with an AK-47 assault rifle, which penetrated through the back of the vehicle and the car seats before they struck the two victims with great impact.
"No exit wounds were found on the victims," Luna said.
Both agents were transported to a local hospital for treatment. Only one was released Monday, officials said.
Authorities first detained a 13-year-old juvenile at 12:30 a.m. Monday. The main suspect, who was identified by witnesses as Jesus Arias Jr., allegedly fled on foot.
Authorities recovered the unmarked bloodstained Border Patrol vehicle as part of the investigation.
Arias was arrested Monday at about 5 p.m. and charged with two counts of attempted murder, a felony 2.
An extra charge for evading arrest, a class B misdemeanor will also be added, officials said.
The suspect was transported to Webb County jail, with a $500,000 bond for each attempted murder charge, as set by Justice of the Peace Hector Liendo.
(Times staff writer Celina Alvarado can be reached at 728-2582 or by email at celina@lmtonline.com)
04/29/03
I'm writing-in Tancredo.
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