LA PALOMA, Texas — Report states a Mexican national was arraigned Thursday on a murder charge in connection with a slaying in La Paloma that authorities believe was over a debt of $10,000 in truck tires.
San Benito Police and Cameron County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Pedro Rodriguez, 23, late Wednesday in a San Benito Walmart. Cameron County Sheriff Omar Lucio said Rodriguez, who is facing a murder charge, had called police to turn himself in.
Lucio said Jose Guadalupe Garza, 45, died in a Harlingen hospital Wednesday evening after he was shot several times in the chest. Garza was shot in the late afternoon while working at his tire shop on a quiet stretch of FM 732 in La Paloma, an area west of Brownsville along the Rio Grande.
Investigators believe the men argued over money, namely a $10,000 debt seemingly regarding tires Garza sold in his shop.
“(Garza) apparently sold some tires on credit and it had not been paid,” Lucio said.
Meanwhile, Lucio could not supply an address for the tire shop but said it is near the intersection of Military Highway 281 and FM 732. Residents of the area pointed out the store, which appeared makeshift. No signs marked the location as a place to buy tires.
“We are continuing the investigation at the present time,” Lucio said.
Garza’s family could not be reached Thursday.
During his arraignment, Rodriguez said in Spanish that he is from Mexico but has been living in San Benito. He told the judge he does not have a criminal record in either country, and he asked for a court-appointed attorney.
Rodriguez said his family lives in Mexico. A judge set bail for Rodriguez at $500,000. He is being held at the Carrizales-Rucker Detention Center in Olmito.
Mfrances is a news writer for NinjaCOPS.com where you can get high quality self defense weapons, rechargeable stun gun flashlights, and law enforcement stun guns.
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