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A 34-year-old man was arrested following a shooting overnight that killed two individuals while injuring five others in the early hours Sunday morning. Each of the injured were airlifted to a San Antonio area hospital, each in critical condition. A 59-year-old woman struck by gunfire is said to be clinging to life as of Monday evening.
The incident took place at the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino in Eagle Pass, Texas, near the US-Mexican border, according to KSAT.
Authorities said the suspect in the shooting, 34-year-old Keryan Jones, was captured in Wilson County hours after the shooting, in coordination with multiple law enforcement agencies.
Jones was taken into custody Sunday in Stockdale, which is about 40 miles southeast of San Antonio and 180 miles from the casino. He has since been extradited to Maverick County.
The Wilson County Sheriff’s Office said Jones was located following a pursuit that began after an attempted traffic stop by Texas Department of Public Safety troopers near a Circle K in Stockdale.
DPS troopers discharged their firearms to stop Jones’ vehicle, which the sheriff’s office said was partially disabled but continued fleeing.
Wilson County deputies joined the pursuit on State Highway 123 and Farm-to-Market 1347.
A weapon was recovered, and no DPS troopers were injured, Eagle Pass police said.
Marcus Antley, a retired U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent, was among those confirmed dead.
Eagle Pass Mayor Aaron Valdez said on Instagram that Antley was a “beloved community member,” who “will be remembered not only for his career, but also for his generosity, leadership and the lasting friendships he built throughout Eagle Pass.”
Family members confirm the identity of one of the victims as Alicia Danielle Sanchez, who died while being transported to a nearby hospital.
“Local authorities in Eagle Pass and Maverick County have informed my office that it has been confirmed one of the victims in the tragic and senseless Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino shooting was indeed a member of our Dimmit County community,” Dimmit County Judge Martha A. Ponce said. “We remain committed to collaborating with Maverick County officials and the City of Eagle Pass to provide any assistance required.”
The Maverick County Sheriff’s Office, Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas Police Department, Texas Rangers from the Texas Department of Public Safety, FBI, U.S. Border Patrol and the Eagle Pass Police Department responded to the shooting.
“Our law enforcement is in full gear, we are ensuring what is number one, the assurance of safety in our community to assure that everything is completely under control,” Maverick County Judge Ramsey English Cantú told KSAT.
A bond for Jones was set at $4.5 million.
A motive for the shooting is not yet known.
An employee at the casino has stated that the facility will be closed to the public until further notice.
- Jagajeet Chiba, Gambling911.com
