Shots Led to Arrests of Suspected Illegal Immigrants

July 29, 2014
Two Mexican nationals said to be in the country illegally were arrested following reports of gunfire.

Two Mexican nationals said to be in the country illegally were arrested following reports of gunfire in a Kerrville neighborhood.

Mario Gomez, 35, was arrested Sunday morning along with 34-year-old Julio Ramirez and 67-year-old Juan Reyes after police found them in a drunken state outside a home in the 100 block of Pearl Street, said Chuck Bocock, Kerrville police spokesman.

About 6 a.m. Sunday, officers were dispatched to the neighborhood following reports of shots fired and a loud argument. Gomez was seen stumbling down the driveway highly intoxicated, with abrasions to his hand consistent with having been in a fight, Bocock said. Officers searched Gomez and found a semi-automatic handgun, although their report didn't appear to state what type it was. Spent shell casings were found nearby.

Gomez was found to be wanted on local warrants issued as early as 2011. The warrants stemmed from accusations he violated probation related to two felonies he committed in 2007: driving while intoxicated for at least the third time and bail jumping.

Ramirez and Reyes also were found to be drunk, and all three were arrested, Bocock said. Police forwarded class C misdemeanor public intoxication charges to the city attorney on all three men.

The handgun possessed by Gomez and a revolver found in the home were placed in the police evidence room. Gomez and whoever owns the handguns will get the weapons back upon the men's release from jail, Bocock said.

No one has been accused of a crime related to the discharge of a firearm. Bocock said it appears the officers didn't find enough evidence in that case. He had no details on the officers' reasoning.

It's a class B misdemeanor to discharge a firearm in a public place or across a road. It's a class A misdemeanor to recklessly discharge a firearm at or in the direction of a person, a home or a vehicle. The latter charge is punishable by as much as a year in the county jail, while a class C misdemeanor is punishable by a fine as much as $500.

Ramirez, a Mexican citizen, was released to federal immigration authorities on Sunday, while Gomez, also a Mexican man, was in the county jail as of Monday, according to jail records. Gomez listed an Ernest Street address, while Ramirez and Reyes claimed to live at the Pearl Street home.

Gomez, who according to court records has at least four aliases, has been jailed eight times since 2006 and released to federal immigration authorities at least twice over the years.

Kerr County Sheriff Rusty Hierholzer said Gomez will be released to the feds once his local charges are resolved.

"Sometimes they are deported and sometimes they aren't," Hierholzer said. "I've seen in the past that sometimes when people have been deported, they're back in our county a week later. Our borders aren't secure, I don't care what anybody says. All we can do is our part and hope that the government will do their part."

Copyright 2014 - Kerrville Daily Times, Texas

McClatchy-Tribune News Service

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