RAYMONDVILLE — Two Mexican nationals are in custody after authorities said they confessed to killing an off-duty U.S. Border Patrol agent and wounding the agent’s father.
Willacy County Sheriff Larry Spence said Border Patrol agent Javier Vega Jr., 36, of Kingsville, died of a gunshot wound to the chest and Javier Vega Sr. of La Feria was hospitalized with a shot to his hip.
Spence said authorities arrested Gustavo Tijernia, 30, of La Villa and Ismael Hernandez, 40, of Weslaco, both Mexican nationals from Matamoros, in connection with the Sunday evening shootings.
The men face charges of capital murder, attempted capital murder, four counts of aggravated robbery and tampering with evidence, Spence said.
The Vegas were shot while gar fishing with the agent’s wife, his mother, two children and another child in the Santa Monica area off FM 1420 about 3.5 miles east of the north levee, Spence said, adding the location was “their favorite spot.”
The suspects confessed to committing other robberies but investigators did not know if they were behind a series of robberies around CameronCounty fishing spots, Spence said.
Natalie Vega, the agent’s sister-in-law, said Javier Vega Jr. is survived by three sons ages 9, 13 and 18.
“The boys are taking it pretty hard,” she said Monday outside the family home in La Feria. “We’re doing as well as we could be.”
She said the agent was shot at “point-blank” range.
“I don’t think the agent got (the gun) out,” she said. But her father-in-law returned gunfire as the suspects fled in a vehicle described as a maroon SUV.
Natalie Vega said her father-in-law was expected to be released today from ValleyBaptistMedicalCenter in Harlingen.
“He was shot basically from hip to hip,” she said. “It went right through the fatty tissue of the lower back.”
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Border Patrol agent robbed, killed; father survives - Brownsville Herald: Premium
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Willacy County Sheriff Larry Spence said Border Patrol agent Javier Vega Jr., 36, of Kingsville, died of a gunshot wound to the chest and Javier Vega Sr. of La Feria was hospitalized with a shot to his hip.
Spence said authorities arrested Gustavo Tijernia, 30, of La Villa and Ismael Hernandez, 40, of Weslaco, both Mexican nationals from Matamoros, in connection with the Sunday evening shootings.
The men face charges of capital murder, attempted capital murder, four counts of aggravated robbery and tampering with evidence, Spence said.
The Vegas were shot while gar fishing with the agent’s wife, his mother, two children and another child in the Santa Monica area off FM 1420 about 3.5 miles east of the north levee, Spence said, adding the location was “their favorite spot.”
The suspects confessed to committing other robberies but investigators did not know if they were behind a series of robberies around CameronCounty fishing spots, Spence said.
Natalie Vega, the agent’s sister-in-law, said Javier Vega Jr. is survived by three sons ages 9, 13 and 18.
“The boys are taking it pretty hard,” she said Monday outside the family home in La Feria. “We’re doing as well as we could be.”
She said the agent was shot at “point-blank” range.
“I don’t think the agent got (the gun) out,” she said. But her father-in-law returned gunfire as the suspects fled in a vehicle described as a maroon SUV.
Natalie Vega said her father-in-law was expected to be released today from ValleyBaptistMedicalCenter in Harlingen.
“He was shot basically from hip to hip,” she said. “It went right through the fatty tissue of the lower back.”
more
Border Patrol agent robbed, killed; father survives - Brownsville Herald: Premium
DRUDGE REPORT @DRUDGE_REPORT
UPDATE: Illegal who gunned down border agent arrested 4X for entering USA illegally...
