MCALLEN, Texas — A minor teenage male believed to be in the country illegally is currently facing murder charges for his suspected role in shooting another underage male in the head after a police pursuit. Both teens have been tied to a human smuggling ring that used teenagers as drivers and guides because they are rarely prosecuted.
The arrest came earlier this week when Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Investigators were looking into a stolen truck, information released by the sheriff’s office to Breitbart Texas revealed.
When investigators asked for assistance from U.S. Border Patrol agents in stopping the vehicle, the driver fled at a high rate of speed starting a pursuit that ended several miles later. The 15-year-old teenager from Mexico and 17-year-old Diego Becerra jumped out of the truck and tried to run away. With the help of Texas Department of Public Safety troopers, deputies were able to locate the two teenagers and charge them with one count of evading arrest and one count of theft. The 15-year-old teen was charged in juvenile court while Becerra was charged as an adult.
Soon after the arraignment hearing authorities were able to link the 15-year-old to a murder investigation where he is the primary suspect. He is expected to be formally charged in the coming days, information released by the sheriff’s office to Breitbart Texas revealed. The motive, as described by authorities, is an ongoing personal dispute between the two teenagers. The 15-year-old suspect has also been linked to a human smuggling ring, a burglary ring, and an auto theft ring.
The murder charge against the teen comes from the September 14, 2014, fatal shooting of Carlos Gracia, a teenager from Mexico who had been previously deported multiple times. Gracia had an infamous history as a human smuggler.
Gracia is the same teenager who in 2012, led state troopers in a high speed pursuit that ended when a trooper fired several shots from a helicopter in an effort to shoot out the tires, The Monitor from McAllen reported at the time. The shooting proved fatal since the speeding red pickup was not filled with drugs as initially believed. It was full of illegal immigrants. Two immigrants from Guatemala died as a result of the police shooting.
Soon after his arrest, Gracia was released by mistake and was later arrested and deported multiple times for human smuggling up until his death.
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