WebCrime rate in Weslaco, Texas (TX): murders, rapes, robberies, assaults, burglaries, thefts, auto thefts, arson, law enforcement employees, police officers, crime map. They arrived around 7:30 p.m., roughly 30 minutes after the shooting. Because this death occurred on a federal installation, the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) was the lead on the investigation. They are driving me crazy. I said Mary, I dont know this man. Ms. Casias, 31, was shot in the stomach and, though seriously wounded, was expected to survive. McDonald has been incarcerated in Texas since being found guilty of Felipe Andrades 2005 murder. Around sunset, two men in a pickup truck drove by, and the migrants took cover in the brush. While awaiting trial, Lee County detectives came to Texas to question him once again about Mount. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. FILE - The warden of a West Texas federal jail for immigrants has been fired after he and a brother allegedly shot at migrants walking along a roadside in Hudspeth County on Sept. 27, killing one and wounding another. A woman is accused of breaking into a retail store in Naples on Monday, April 3, hiding her identity by holding an umbrella while taking money from the business. But then, he told Texas detectives he could take them to Mounts body. They are good guys. "While people need to evaluate what they are hearing I dont think you do yourselves any favors by lying to your audience," they continued. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. SIERRA BLANCA - A Hudspeth County jury found Terlingua man Tony Flint not guilty of all charges Tuesday night, following three and a half hours of deliberation, The 22-year-old soon slipped into Texas and, with a group of about a dozen migrants, began traversing the parched landscape east of El Paso on foot. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. This is a case with a lot of circumstantial evidence, that we hope to be able to sure up and charge him if he is in fact the killer, said Feinberg. They also follow years of complaints by immigrants against Michael Sheppard, who was the warden at the West Texas Detention Center in Sierra Blanca, Texas. A 16-year-old boy wanted as part of an investigation into the killings of three teenagers in central Florida was captured by authorities, days after another teenager and a 12-year-old were charged in the deaths. The brothers reportedly told law enforcement they were looking for animals to shoot. I think nearly anyone who knew the man is really just astonished that he used such poor judgment, he said. Do you think The Heads of Sierra Blanca should have been more forthcoming and transparent? Border Patrol, the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations helped in the inquiry. What inflamed the already combustible situation was that the men charged with the shooting were familiar local fixtures: Michael Sheppard, the warden of a deeply troubled private prison in town who works closely with the sheriff, and his twin brother Mark Sheppard, an employee at the county jail that the sheriff runs. He was hunting immigrants.". The facility still holds inmates for the U.S. I hunt man, he added in a grinning reference to the nature of his job in law enforcement. The sprawling county, home to some 3,200 people, is more than three-quarters Hispanic, and spreads over an area nearly the size of Connecticut. "The division and fear that Greg Abbott and his fellow bigots have created has made Texas a more dangerous place for all Hispanics. SIERRA BLANCA, Texas U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Sierra Blanca Border Patrol Station Murder on the Base? We were speaking Spanish, and Mark said, Dont speak Spanish around me, said Bill Addington, 65, a longtime resident who volunteered at a local food bank where Mr. Sheppard would supervise county inmates on work detail in striped uniforms. And I think Im next., Her aunt replied: Where are you? 5th Anniversary of Unsolved Murder on Sheppard Air Force Base She loved the military. The migrants had been drinking from a water tank along the roadside and tried to hide behind the tank during the incident late Tuesday. But if you would like to submit something, please send to militaryjusticeforall@gmail.com, Since when did Air Force personnel start wearing Marine Corps uniforms. Five years later, still with no answers, Gloria Barrios was battling depression and hospitalized. The Lee County Sheriffs Office is holding a press conference regarding an arrest after a deadly Sunday morning shooting in Lehigh Acres. These individuals need to be held accountable. El Paso police arrested McDonald for the murder. They spend a lot of time outdoors. Over a week, the men faced beatings, racial taunts and sexual abuse at the hands of the centers officials who were under the leadership of Mike Sheppard at the time. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? 'The Heads of Sierra Blanca': True Story or Fiction? One of the men emerged with a gun and opened fire, fatally striking Mr. Seplveda, wounding a young Mexican woman and making the southern border region around Sierra Blanca a new focal point in the nations increasingly contentious immigration debate. If you have any suggestions, please let me know. This was an utter dereliction of ICE's duty to supervise and protect immigrants held in detention, and has allowed Sheppard and others to continue to abuse immigrants with no consequences," the statement read. No pictures of her in USAF uniform. Related Links: Surviving migrants told investigators they hid in the brush when the men pulled over in Employees with Uber and Lyft said theyre not getting paid enough, taking high gas prices and inflation into account. The Sheppards, both 60, were arrested and booked into the El Paso County Jail after 6 a.m. Thursday, according to online records. Sierra Blanca, TX. But is The Heads of Sierra Blanca a true story? All Rights Reserved. After Mr. Seplvedas death, some of his relatives, including his mother, Luz Mara Martnez Castro, left, his partner, Sandra Lizeth Crdenas Ramrez, and his 6-month-old daughter, Sofa, have been holding a vigil in Ciudad Jurez, Mexico. "The preliminary investigation shows that a truck with two men inside pulled over and shot at a group [of] illegal immigrants standing alongside the road getting water," DPS said in a statement provided to the Washington Examiner. Waitresses in town also remembered Mr. Sheppard objecting to hearing Spanish spoken in his presence while eating. She felt that they resented her because of her rank and the fact that she was a woman in a leadership position. He was later convicted and sentenced to life in prison. Greg Abbott. Yet, the words and vitriol used against Latinos and migrants are leading to murder. Dan Patrick (R-TX). In 2004 he was not involved with the case, but said he has reviewed that case file. Abbott launched a domestic terrorism taskforce in response to that shooting. U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesperson Landon Hutchens released a statement Friday about the shooting. Sheriff West was there, too. Vivek Ramaswamy calls out the brainwashing, indoctrination, and dangers of children gender transitioning, Reporters Notebook: Republicans take a hammer to Dems climate law. But he waited until last week to create a cartel division at Texas DPS. Before the 2018 incident, the West Texas facility came under scrutiny from Immigration and Customs Enforcements Office of Detention Oversight, citing health services deficiencies and a lack of training on how to use nonlethal weapons. Another added, "The fact that they tried to claim it was true, the website they built has a tip line of sorts at the bottom. After release, McDonald moved to El Paso. Claim: Sen. Bernie Sanders once supported a proposal to "dump nuclear waste" in the "poor Latino community" of Sierra Blanca, Texas. A woman was shot in the stomach. Two 60-year-old brothers were arrested Thursday in connection with the shooting in Sierra Blanca Tuesday night, which is being investigated by the Texas Department of Public Safety. After Glorias visit to Sheppard AFB, theAir Force released a statement that said deaths are investigated as homicides initially, but that nothing suggests that anyone on base is in danger. This statement is troublesomebecause the murder occurred within the confines of a secure military base. According to one detainee, the Warden Sheppard threatened him and said "Boy, I'm going to show you. I hope and pray justice will prevail. My son did not deserve to die this way, Napolen Seplveda Moreno said in an interview last week. The desolate area near the Mexico border is the last place Dottie Knapp thought her daughter would end up. did not respond to a request for comment. The Texas Democratic Party and the Mexican-American Legislative Caucus on Thursday issued rebukes of the incident, and called for immigration reform instead of rhetoric that encourages violence against migrants. County officials said the I.C.E. And then revved the engine. Copyright 2022 Texas Public Radio. Show us with your support. The sprawling surrounding county, home to some 3,200 Thomas Neeley, the top elected official in Hudspeth County, told Marfa Public Radio that Mark Sheppard has been an employee at the county jail, though his employment status remains unclear. Even though Mary had not been seen or heard from by her family or friends in weeks, the State Attorney did not charge McDonald with anything related to her disappearance. A 2018 report detailed the experience of several Somali migrants that were detained at West Texas Detention Center, where he was the warden. The U.S. Border Patrol is made up of over 19,000 brave men and women who courageously secure our nations borders. One of the places severely damaged by Hurricane Ian was Fort Myers Beach, and seven months later, theres still more to do, but theyve come a long way. Eventually, the driver revved the trucks engine, fired a gun, climbed back into the truck and drove away. Justice for Blanca Luna More than 10,000 vehicles travel through the Sierra Blanca checkpoint on a daily basis. Blancas momwants answers from military officials, and she wants them to classify Lunas death as a homicide and find the culprit. Marshals, county records showed. The shooting happened near the small town of Sierra Blanca, Texas. Neely said he had not received any new details about the investigation beyond what has been already reported in the news. Its been over a decade since the man who was last seen with Mary Mount led investigators to the shallow grave where he had left her body near Sierra Blanca, Texas. A male migrant was hit in the head and died, and a female was wounded in the stomach and taken to an El Paso hospital, DPS said. Sutterfield did not immediately respond to a request for comment late Thursday about those previous allegations or Mike Sheppards continued employment after they were made. The Hudspeth County Clerks office said Monday afternoon it still had not received any documents and had no case against the brothers formally docketed. Suspicious death: Student airman with stab wound dies in hospital Theyre looking in the wrong placeI cant express what I feel about these people. In 2018, some of those detainees complained of abusive treatment including assaults and racial insults, according to a report by researchers from Texas A&M University School of Law, the University of Texas School of Law and Raices, a nonprofit focused on immigrant legal services. At this point, I dont know what to think. He moved in with Felipe Andrade, a man in his early 60s, who according to news reports had a history of taking in transients. He was released with time served. One of the alleged shooters is reportedly a warden for a privately run immigration detention center. Gov. According to the podcast, Ana Nuez, Carlos Aniceto and Magdalena's own aunt, Lorena Salas, were murdered by a killer. detainees. This wanted international fugitive attempted to remain in the U.S. illegally and was stopped by the diligent work of our Border Patrol agents.. This is an ongoing investigation by the Texas Rangers and FBI and no further information is available at this time. Mike loves to hunt, the Hudspeth County sheriff, Arvin West, said in an interview at his office, where he displayed an autographed portrait of former president Donald J. Trump. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Cold Case: Air Force Reservist SrA Blanca Luna Discovered Stabbed to Death in Base Lodging at Sheppard AFB in Texas(2008), Suspicious death: Student airman with stab wound dies in hospital, Texas Air Force Reservist Found Stabbed to Death in Hotel, Indiana Air Force reservist found fatally stabbed in Texas, Indiana Airman found dead at base in Texas, OSI continues to investigate March 7 death, Mother of Murdered Female Airman To Request Meeting on Oct. 3 with Sheppard Air Force Base officials on Status of Investigation, Blanca Lunas mother went to Texas but learned nothing about her daughters death on an air force base, Dead airmans family unhappy about lack of progress in case, Family suspects cover-up in airmans death on base, 5th Anniversary of Unsolved Murder on Sheppard Air Force Base, Find a Grave: Blanca Adriana Luna (1980 2008), Grozinger Law PA criminal attorney orlando fl. AUSTIN, Texas Two men were arrested and charged with manslaughter after an immigrant was killed and another injured when they were shot at while drinking water on the side of a road near a Texas border town. The driver leaned on the trucks hood and shot twice at the group and then got back into the truck and drove away. When they interviewed his brother, Mark Sheppard, he initially said he was never at the location where the shooting happened. Please dont tell Mom. Word of the shooting spread rapidly through Sierra Blanca, a pit stop for truck traffic along Interstate 10. The brothers, the Sheppards, were taken into custody and remain in jail in El Paso. The Latino advocacy groups also announced it will ask the U.S. Department of Justice to look into the flights that immigrants rights groups claimed were nothing more than political stunts. They shot me, Ms. Casias can be heard saying, then adding, They are OK. Its just me and another guy. Do you value our journalism? Agents have been assigned to the case on a full-time basis, and more than 350 interviews have been conducted at locations across the country. Hudspeth County Sheriff Arvin West, second from right, at a high school football game in Sierra Blanca, Texas, last month. Case files from the Andrade Murder show that he didnt tell them anything at first. Anyone with information regarding the case should call Sheppard Air Force Base security forces at (940) 676-2981 [or Sheppard AFOSI at (940) 676-1852]. Find a Grave: Blanca Adriana Luna (1980 2008). It's unclear if the two incidents are related. Sierra Blanca abandoned truck stop was the second scariest place weve stayed. The group took cover to avoid being detected when a vehicle approached. He said he went to Knapps home and stole several things before fleeing the state, buying a shovel along the way and ultimately burying Mount in Sierra Blanca. Javelinas are similar-looking to hogs. The brothers, who were charged with manslaughter, were in a truck when they pulled over and shot at a group of migrants, according to DPS. BROKEN BORDER: BIDEN IMMIGRATION POLICIES SPUR 'STAGGERING' DEATH TOLL. Border Patrol helped trace the truck and investigators discovered the vehicle was assigned to Mike Sheppard, according to the newspaper. The Texas Rangers, the FBI and several other agencies are investigating after two migrants were shot, one fatally, in a rural county outside El Paso, Texas. Violent crimes in Sierra Blanca are 73% higher than the national average. But he did admit that Mary died after they had sex and that he freaked out and stuffed her body into a duffle bag and put her in the trunk of her car. Knapp said she was told by the prosecutor at the time that because her daughters body had not been recovered, there werent more serious charges that could be pursued. The first two episodes are out now!https://t.co/AQ9kCzFYbs pic.twitter.com/h266noC4iY. Although the warrant detailed Mary as a missing person who had not been seen or heard from by family and friends, none of this information was permitted into evidence at trial. A new bill would change that, LULAC raises reward amount for info on woman who allegedly lured migrants away from Texas, Hispanic students were once segregated at this school. The incident comes at a moment when Republicans and border residents have voiced concern that the Biden administration does not care about record high numbers of illegal immigrants across the southern border. Payne Lindsey said on Twitter it was fake. Saturday night shooting in downtown Fort Myers under investigation. Change). A K-9 unit sits outside the Hudspeth County Sheriffs Office in 2010. It was unclear late Thursday what, if any, action federal officials took after the report was released and published in The Intercept. By, A service of the Moody College of Communication at the University of Texas at Austin, dangerous anti-immigrant political rhetoric, How an anti-abortion campaign overtook a reproductive rights club on one Texas campus, Always on our minds: Austin celebrates 90 years of Willie Nelson, Severe storms are moving through the Austin area, More than a third of Texas prisons don't have air conditioning. Two brothers were arrested in connection to the shooting that occurred Tuesday on FM 1111 in Hudspeth County, approximately four miles south of Sierra Anna Giaritelli, Homeland Security Reporter, Freedom House undermines mission by downplaying genocide and terror. The Sierra Blanca Station area of responsibility consists of more than half of Hudspeth County or about 2,500 square miles. The detention center is in Sierra Blanca, Texas, about four miles north of where the DPS spokesperson said the shooting occurred. And so I gave him my blessings, Mr. Seplveda said in a telephone interview. "On Sept. 27, at approximately 9:17 p.m., U.S. Border Patrol Agents from the Sierra Blanca checkpoint received a call for assistance from Hudspeth County Sheriff's Office to help them locate a female gunshot victim after they received a 911 call. The warden of a West Texas federal jail for immigrants has been fired after he and a brother allegedly shot at migrants drinking water along a roadside in Hudspeth Air Force identifies deceased Airman What possibly could go wrong? If Greg Abbott really cared about public safety, he would immediately condemn these actions and the violent actions of all vigilantes.. The information is gathered by experienced and trusted Nexstar Media Group journalists hired specifically to cover the border. Jeanette Harper, an FBI special agent in El Paso, confirmed the agency had provided resources to Texas Rangers for an evidence recovery scene but deferred further comment to DPS as it was the leading investigative authority. The family says Sepulveda is the man who was shot and killed last month in Sierra Blanca, Texas. There was also the fact that Magdalena had never put out a podcast before that raised some brows among seasoned true crime fans. So, Friday night, theyre demanding action in the cell phone lot at Southwest Florida International Airport. by Alejandro Serrano, Uriel J. Garca and William Melhado "There was no way for the killers to know who their victims were or what their legal status was," Castro said in a statement. Im sure the thought back then was, theres probable cause for burglary. They shot us. This is pissing me off, he said. Help us secure our homeland, find out more at cbp.gov/careers. A spokesperson for the facility would not confirm the name, but said the warden there had been terminated "due to an off-duty incident unrelated to his employment." But for 14 years, Mounts case has remained an open investigation. Border Patrol Apprehends Interpol Murder Suspect. As this is an active and ongoing investigation by the Texas Rangers, DPS said. No suspects were ever identified. WebCrime in Sierra Blanca, Texas. Marfa Public Radio. The Texas Department of Public Safety, which is leading the investigation, would not answer further questions about the shooting. The San Antonio Express-News reported that Mike Sheppard was the warden of the West Texas Detention Center, run by the Louisiana-based LaSalle Corrections, a company that operates jails, prisons and immigration detention centers. According to AFOSI, theFBI assistedwith the investigation. The vehicle linked to the shooting belonged to LaSalle Corrections, according to the Express-News. does not care about record high numbers of illegal immigrants. Knapp said that was the last time she saw her daughter. It was not clear why Mike Sheppard and his brother were accused of manslaughter as opposed to another potential criminal charge this week. She said Mom, it will be late, but I will be home.. The Murder of Military Women Continues Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. They were then rearrested the following day, Deputy Salgado said, after the Texas Rangers issued a warrant on new charges related to the shooting: aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Sierra Blanca Border Patrol agents encountered an individual by the name of Marouana Bah, a 30-year-old citizen of France, while conducting immigration inspections on board a passenger bus at the Sierra Blanca Immigration Checkpoint. Age <10 years 20% 10-17 years 16% 18-24 years 4% More Education Levels National Master's degree San Antonio Reddit users call out local businesses to boycott, The tragic case of an S.A.-area dentist and his Miami patient, SpaceX will be ready for launch in six to eight weeks, Musk says, H-E-B family listed among worlds richest people by Forbes, SAWS will pay you to rip out 'boring turf', H-E-B family, SpaceX and S.A.s best restaurants top weeks news, Internet says $40 at Texas Roadhouse can last you a week, 5 found shot 'execution style' in home in San Jacinto County. Keep reading to find out. Updated: 10 PM Central. I saw them that same night at the water board, nothing out of the ordinary, the sheriff said. The Sept. 27 killing drew broad condemnation, raising questions about the rule of law in the cactus-studded high plains of West Texas and the real-world impacts of a bitter political divide over how to handle a record number of unauthorized crossings at the southern border. You dont really know this man. struggles to provide sufficient water supplies for its hundreds of inmates. Now it will be a historic site, Another National Guard soldier working Operation Lone Star dies by suspected suicide, Immigration, guns and abortion dominate Abbott, ORourke debate in the Rio Grande Valley, Why theres no invasion happening on the U.S.-Mexico border, Border sheriffs coalition says 'time will tell' if Abbotts terrorist designation bears fruit, Migrant deaths at the U.S.-Mexico border hit a record high, in part due to drownings, Migrants flown from Texas to Massachusetts sue Florida Gov. The Debrief with Hugo Gurdon: Why nobody wants a rematch of Trump and Biden in 2024, Reporters Notebook: Biden makes 2024 campaign official. Bill Addington a Sierra Blanca resident, activist and critic of the local prison said he didnt know either of the brothers very well, but he did interact with Mark Sheppard on a regular basis at a weekly food bank event. On March 7, 2008, SrA Blanca A. Luna, 27, US Air Force Reserve, was found unresponsive and with injuries consistent with a stab wound in her billeting room at Guillermo has also worked in Central America, Mexico, New Mexico, Arizona and California and his work has appeared in various publications, including the Los Angeles Times, New York Times, New York Post, Newsday, Denver Post and the Albuquerque Journal. At a time when newsroom resources and revenue across the country are declining, The Texas Tribune remains committed to sustaining our mission: creating a more engaged and informed Texas with every story we cover, every event we convene and every newsletter we send. Steve Knapp recalled them arriving in a small brown paper bag, and broke into tears. I held my sisters bones in my hands, no brother should have to endure that, he said. People have died in our state just based on the color of their skin in El Paso three years ago, and now in our neighboring Hudspeth County. An arrest affidavit from the Texas Department of Public Safety obtained Friday by the Tribune says Michael Sheppard, the warden at a private immigration Scott Sutterfield, a spokesperson for LaSalle Corrections, said in a statement that Sheppard no longer worked for the company. Bah was processed according to the applicable immigration laws. Big Bend Sector Chief Patrol Agent Matthew J. Hudak said, This arrest highlights our law enforcement collaboration, including partnerships well beyond our borders. Some people in town have expressed shock, saying the brothers had never displayed any sort of racial animus. More than 10,000 vehicles travel through the Sierra Blanca checkpoint on a daily basis. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Had they been honest up front that it's a made up story, I would have been less irritated with how scripted it felt before I realized it WAS actually scripted. Authorities found the injured woman roughly two hours after the attack. The detention center is in Sierra Blanca, Texas, about four miles north of where the DPS spokesperson said the shooting occurred. The killing has prompted outrage among immigrant rights groups, with some tying the shooting to what theyve described as dangerous anti-immigrant political rhetoric. DeSantis and other officials, Latest statewide poll shows majority of Texans think state is headed in the wrong direction. He denied yelling anything. Sheppard began working as a warden in 2015 at the West Texas facility, which has been the subject of several allegations of violence against immigrants, according to The Intercept. It found that officers used racist epithets and engaged in hate crimes. contract had been ended because of the water issues, which stemmed from a problem obtaining adequate supply from a nearby town. Before leaving for the United States, his son received a small salary caring for farm animals and growing melons in their home of San Martn, several hours south of the border. Mike Sheppard was accused of punching a man in the face and kicking him while he was handcuffed on the ground in solitary confinement, according to The Intercept. Ill see how I get out of this one, Ms. Casias said. Later, the murder was blamed on cartels and turf wars, but Magdalena wasn't buying that coverup story. The status of the criminal case against the brothers remains unclear. Upon hearing a truck approaching, the group tried to hide. Eight years later, the case is still considered under investigation and highlights the need for cold case squads in the military. The company spokesman, Scott Sutterfield, said the detention center currently did not have I.C.E. My condolences to the family. (LogOut/ but later changed "him" to "it". The warrant for his arrest said a neighbor had seen McDonald entering Knapps home, removing items with another female who was most definitely not Mount. For local and breaking news, sports, weather alerts, video and more, download the FREE KTSM 9 News App from theApple App Storeor theGoogle Play Store. Sheppard was named in an egregious 2018 report that found officials at the Sierra Blanca jail had abused 80 men in detention. Coastal nonprofit's survey of SpaceX launch site details San Antonio eyes stickers in fight against domestic violence, Man accused of strangling neighbor to death in apartment, SA's last Tuskegee Airman buried at Fort Sam, Pedestrian killed in hit-and-run on Interstate 35 downtown.

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