Suspects Defend Shooting Texas ICE Agent
A father and son were charged Thursday with shooting a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement special agent in South Texas, prosecutors said Thursday.
Pedro Alvarado, 41, and his 18-year-old son Arnoldo Alvarado are charged with assault of a federal officer and knowingly using and carrying a firearm during a violent crime. Both are expected to appear before a federal judge Thursday morning. They face up to 20 years in prison if convicted on the assault charge and a minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison on the weapons count.
The agent, Kelton Harrison, was shot early Tuesday morning while conducting surveillance on an anticipated drug deal at a property near Hargill, 25 miles northeast of the border town of McAllen. Harrison required surgery but is expected to fully recover.
Arnoldo Alvarado told authorities that his father spotted what he considered a suspicious vehicle and told him and another person "to get the guns," according to a criminal complaint. The third person was a minor who was not named in the complaint and has been turned over to state authorities.
Authorities said they also found two illegal immigrants, listed in online records as material witnesses in the case, but did not say if they suspected they were involved in the shooting.
