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Post by evp5O on Aug 4, 2014 18:42:46 GMT -5
Sheriff Spence told Kiii-TV that Border Patrol agent Javier Vega, Jr., was fishing with relatives when two men attempted to rob them, opening fire on Vega and his family. Vega was shot and killed and his father was shot in the hip.
The two suspects have now been identified as Mexican nationals Gustavo Tijerina, 30, of La Villa, Texas, and Ismael Hernandez, 40, of Weslaco, Texas. They were taken into custody Monday and will be officially booked into jail Tuesday, according to Spence.
He said the suspects have confessed to the crime and he is confident that the two will ”face charges of capital murder, attempted capital murder, four counts of aggravated robbery and tampering with evidence,” according to the news site.
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An off-duty Border Patrol agent shot in the chest and killed in an attempted robbery Sunday night begged his father to “keep shooting, dad,” while the agent’s mother picked up a rifle and shot at the fleeing suspects as well, police told TheBlaze.
Federal and state law enforcement officials were questioning two male suspects in the killing of the off-duty Rio Grande Valley Border Patrol and the shooting of his father while the family was on a fishing expedition in south Texas.
A U.S. Border Patrol canine team stands nearby after they helped detain a group of undocumented immigrants near the U.S.-Mexico border on April 11, 2013 near Mission, Texas. A group of 16 immigrants from Mexico and El Salvador said they crossed the Rio Grande River from Mexico into Texas during the morning hours before they were caught. The Rio Grande Valley sector of the border has had more than a 50 percent increase in illegal immigrant crossings from last year, according to the Border Patrol. Agents say they have also seen an additional surge in immigrant traffic since immigration reform negotiations began this year in Washington D.C. Proposed refoms could provide a path to citizenship for many of the estimated 11 million undocumented workers living in the United States. Credit: Getty Images
A U.S. Border Patrol canine team stands nearby after they helped detain a group of undocumented immigrants near the U.S.-Mexico border, April 11, 2013 near Mission, Texas. (Getty Images)
Willacy County Sheriff Larry Spence told TheBlaze the suspects are Hispanic and were apprehended five hours after the shooting, hiding in a shed behind the home of a man living in the area. Law enforcement are investigating whether the men are in the U.S. legally.
Police have not released the name of the agent, but said it does not appear the suspects knew he was a member of the Border Patrol.
Spence said it appears that the agent, his two young children, a young friend and the agent’s parents were fishing together. The suspects had made several passes along the road by the water when they spotted the group, and approached the victims and told them to get on the ground. The suspects were surprised when they discovered that the off-duty agent and his father were armed, Spence said.
“We’re still putting the pieces together but it doesn’t appear now that they knew he was a Border Patrol agent,” Spence said. ”The Border Patrol agent apparently kept telling his dad to ‘keep firing, dad, keep shooting, dad’ at the suspects after he was already hit.”
At some point, the agent’s mother “apparently picked up the AR-15 rifle and continued shooting at the suspects’ vehicle, hitting the windshield and other parts of the vehicle as the suspects fled.”
Spence said police believe the suspects tossed their weapons as they fled in their vehicle after the shooting.
The sheriff said police had spoken with one family member by phone and were waiting to interview the rest of the family members who were at the scene.
Spence said the FBI, Texas Department of Public Safety and a number of other outside law enforcement agencies have offered their help with the case. Spence said the outpouring of help has been “appreciated because we have limited resources and because it’s a fellow law enforcement officer, it’s all the harder.”
Border Patrol spokesman Joe Guiterrez would not comment on the shooting except to say the incident is under investigation.
A Department of Homeland Security official told TheBlaze they are “looking to see if the suspects are in the United States illegally.”
Willacy County District Attorney Bernard Ammerman, the Texas Ranger Division and the county’s chief investigator have all been involved in questioning the suspects, Spence said.
“Based on what has been found at the crime scene it appears that there was a shoot-out,” Spence said. “The suspects’ vehicle, which was found several miles from the crime scene, was shot at and apparently broke down after the suspects fled. Police investigators are in the process of getting a search warrant to open the vehicle.”
A number of robberies that fit the same pattern have been occurring in Cameron County, which borders Willacy County, Spence said.
“We’ll be looking at the various robberies and if any more people are involved, we will find them,” Spence said. “If there is a connection we’ll find it, and it will be a big relief to the people in our communities if we put an end to this.”
Spence, who has been the county sheriff for 29 years, called the situation heartbreaking.
“I called out a prayer asking the Lord, help us resolve this and five hours later, we found the individuals,” Spence said. “It was nice that we had the assistance from numerous federal and state law enforcement agencies and divine help. Prayers go out to the family of this tragic crime. I can’t imagine what the family is going through at this time
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Post by evp5O on Aug 5, 2014 20:38:42 GMT -5
So Harry Reid tells the American public that the border is secure....
He needs to personally go tell the family of this fallen Border Patrol Agent
that he was wrong.... Dead Wrong.
RAYMONDVILLE, Texas -- Two illegal immigrants from Mexico who were charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of an off-duty U.S. Border Patrol agent in front of his family in Texas have been arrested and deported numerous times, police sources told FoxNews.com.
One suspect has been arrested no fewer than four times for entering the U.S. illegally, according to federal court records. The other has been deported twice after entering the U.S. illegally, sources said.
Gustavo Tijerina, 30, and Ismael Hernandez, 40, were arraigned Tuesday afternoon inside the Willacy County jail library. They were ordered held without bail after being charged with capital murder of a peace officer, attempted murder, and a variety of lesser charges.
The pair, who have been living in Texas illegally, confessed after being interviewed multiple times Monday to killing Border Patrol agent Javier Vega Jr. in front of his wife and two kids and his parents Sunday night while they were fishing in Santa Monica, Sheriff Larry Spence told FoxNews.com.
They finally confessed to the robbery and indicated they knew they had killed someone, but did not know it was an off-duty Border Patrol agent, Spence said in an interview in his office Tuesday morning.
"They do now," he said.
When asked how the suspects reacted when they learned the victim was a Border Patrol agent, Spence said, "shock and concern."
The sheriff said the two suspects were likely connected to cartels or other criminal gangs.
"They claim to have been involved in other incidents, this means you've got stolen vehicles going into Mexico," he said.
"Everything is going to be cartel-related, there's a connection somehow.
"This is not the first episode of border violence in Willacy County but it's the first time someone's been killed," he said.
Tijerina, who according to records was arrested at least four times between 2007 and 2010 for entering the U.S. illegally, and Hernandez allegedly approached Vega and his family and tried to rob them on Sunday night. When Vega pulled out his weapon, the suspects allegedly shot him in the chest, killing him.Vega's father was shot in the hip and is recovering at a nearby hospital.
Both Tijerina and Hernandez were arraigned on seven charges: capital murder of a peace officer, attempted murder, four counts each of aggravated robbery and one count of tampering with evidence. When asked by the judge if they wanted to notify the Mexican Consulate and if they wanted attorneys, both said yes. Each also wanted to be allowed to call family members.
At 12:45pm, the first suspect, Tijerina, appeared before Judge George Solis. He wore an orange short-sleeve shirt and pants and black flip flops with silver chains around his ankles. His blood-shot eyes bulged in apparent surprise when the judge told him he faced seven different counts.
Tijerina at several points during his arraignment looked around the room and stared at each person, including this reporter and two others, and the county sheriff.
When the charges were being read, Tejerina interrupted to say there was no robbery. Sources told FoxNews.com Tejerina is the one believed to allegedly have fired the shots that killed Vega.
As he was being walked out, he asked if he could have a Bible from the library shelf. He was told he would be brought one later in his cell.
After Tijerina had been escorted out of the small room, Hernandez, thin and lanky and wearing dark green prison garb, was brought in about 1:10pm. He was more vocal than the first suspect. When told of the seven charges he was facing, Hernandez exclaimed "seven charges?" in Spanish.
"I don't understand why I'm being accused of so many things," he told the judge.
Hernandez said he tested negative for gunshot powder. Sources said this suspect’s job in the robbery-turned-murder was to drive the car they planned to steal.
Hernandez said he wanted to tell his wife and his brothers "who live here" what had happened.
"I wish I could let my wife know and my brothers, the ones who are here," he said.
When he was told a lawyer would be provided if he couldn't afford one, Hernandez said, "Yo no tengo deniro. No tengo nada." ("I don't have money, I don't have anything.")
According to court records, Tijerina, who also goes by the name Tijerina-Sandoval, pleaded guilty to entering the U.S. illegally on July 9, 2007. He was given a 30-day sentence with credit for time served and charged a $10 fee.
Three months later, on Oct. 4, he was again found guilty of entering the country illegally and was sentenced to 60 days in jail and $10 fee. In a criminal complaint, he said he entered the U.S. on Sept. 1 and was encountered by border patrol agents near Weslaco, Texas, on Oct. 3. He had waded across the Rio Grande River near Progreso, Mexico, court records show.
A year later, on Oct. 25, 2008, he again crossed into the U.S. by wading across the river. On Nov. 18, 2008, he was given 90 days in jail and another $10 special assessment fee.
On Dec. 15, 2009, Tijerina was indicted by a grand jury on charges of entering the U.S. illegally yet again. The indictment says he "had previously been denied admission, excluded, deported and removed, knowing and unlawfully was present in the United States having been found near Edinburg, Texas." Court records say he had not obtained consent from the U.S. attorney general and the secretary of homeland security to reapply for admission into the U.S.
A warrant issued for his arrest said he faced up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
He was held without bond on Jan. 26, 2010. He was given nine months in jail and fined $100.
Sources confirmed that these court cases involved the same Tijerina in custody for killing the Border Patrol agent. They said Hernandez, the other suspect, has been deported twice for entering the U.S. illegally.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2014 20:50:22 GMT -5
"Yo no tengo deniro. No tengo nada." ("I don't have money, I don't have anything.")
You have air in your lungs and that is more than you deserve. 
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Post by evp5O on Aug 6, 2014 21:38:25 GMT -5
Even more coming out about these two "Mexicans"
They have been busy prior to murdering one of our Border Patrol Agents.
MCALLEN, Texas – The alleged gunman in a Border Patrol agent's murder is expected to be hit with additional charges tying him to a series of armed robberies and car jackings at fishing spots in Cameron County over the last six weeks believed to be tied to the Gulf Cartel, sources told FoxNews.com.
One of those prior victims, who apparently was not injured, was an off-duty Border Patrol agent, sources told FoxNews.com.
Gustavo Tijerina, 30, and Ismael Hernandez, 40, were charged Tuesday with murdering off-duty Border Patrol agent Javier Vega Jr. in Willacy County, along with six other charges including aggravated robbery and the attempted murder of Vega's father, who was shot in the hip.
Tijerina is the suspected gunman who sources say allegedly shot and killed Vega during a botched robbery attempt at a secluded fishing hole on Sunday night.
Tijerina was expected to be charged with four counts of aggravated robbery and one conspiracy organized crime charge for his involvement in the recent string of Cameron County robberies, sources told FoxNews.com.
One of the earlier victims was another off-duty Border Patrol agent who was also out fishing when he was robbed. The crew that robbed fishermen in Cameron County was known for firing shots while ordering victims to hand over jewelry, cash and keys to their cars.
FoxNews.com previously reported that both suspects had been arrested and deported numerous times and have been living in South Texas illegally. Tijerina was arrested at least four times for crossing into the U.S. illegally between 2007 and 2009, according to court records. Hernandez was arrested and deported at least twice.
The Border Patrol union has set up a memorial fund.
On Wednesday, Border Patrol released this statement: "The senseless shooting death of Border Patrol Agent Javier Vega Jr. while fishing with his family Aug. 3, has left an indelible impact upon the men and women of the U.S. Border Patrol’s Rio Grande Valley Sector.
“Words cannot express our sorrow for the loss of our brother, when we lose one of our own, it feels as if we’ve lost a beloved member of our own family,” said Chief Patrol Agent Kevin Oaks. “I wish to express to his family and friends my deepest condolences. May the peace that comes from the memories of the time you shared together, comfort you now and in the difficult days ahead.
"Prior to joining the Border Patrol, Agent Vega served his country as a Marine. His service in the Marine Corps and in the Border Patrol is a true testament to the type of man he was. His character, work ethic and desire to help others are commendable. His death is not only a loss for RGV Sector and the U.S. Border Patrol, but for our entire community.
“The Kingsville Station is at a loss,” said Kingsville Station Acting Patrol Agent in Charge Arnold Perez. “Not only did Javier strive to be the best agent and K-9 handler, but he also made it a point to develop and truly care about his friendships.”
"In the days that have followed this devastating loss, the impact has been immediate and sorrowful. In the many comments and thoughts expressed by those who knew him best, his family and friends were an obvious priority and focus in his life. His co-workers say he was a good man, devoted to his family, particularly his wife, Paola, and sons, Javier Vega III, Jiovanni, and Jarod. He was a beloved son and brother, and had a passion for life.
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Post by evp5O on Aug 7, 2014 7:37:38 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2014 9:16:15 GMT -5
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