An intense manhunt is underway in Texas for a 19-year-old suspect wanted in a mass shooting at a popular flea market that killed a 10-year-old boy and wounded four others.
An arrest warrant has been issued for 19-year-old David Negrete, charging him with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in connection with the deadly incident at Cole’s Flea Market in Pearland Sunday.
“He should be considered armed and dangerous,” officer Chad Rogers, with the Pearland Police Department, said of Negrete.
On Monday, cops arrested a pair of 18-year-olds in connection with the shooting, charging Juliana Espiono and Cruz Mesa with tampering with physical evidence and making a false statement to a peace officer, reported Fox 26 Houston.
Police confirmed that Mesa was among the people who were shot at the flea market.
Officers raced to Cole’s Flea Market on Main Street just after 5:30 p.m. Sunday for reports of shots fired and discovered 5 victims: a 10-year-old boy, a 14-year-old girl, a 16-year-old boy, a 37-year-old man, and Mesa.
The 10-year-old victim died at the hospital. His name has not been released as of Tuesday.
The teen girl and Mesa were in stable condition, while the 16-year-old underwent surgery. The adult man was treated and released.
“I can tell you that the 10-year-old, the 14-year-old, and the 37-year-old victims were innocent bystanders caught in the crossfire as a result of the altercation,” Rogers said.
Gunfire broke out after an argument between two strangers, Rogers said in a news conference Sunday. The two people, and possibly a third person, exchanged shots with handguns.
Negrete is believed to be one of the shooters, Rogers said. Investigators are still trying to determine if the injured 16-year-old was also involved in the impromptu gun battle.
On Monday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced that authorities were offering a $15,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the case.
“Texas mourns the loss of a precious child following the devastating tragedy in Pearland yesterday, and our hearts are with the four other victims in the hospital as they recover from their injuries,” Abbott said in a statement. “The State of Texas is deploying our full support to local law enforcement to ensure the perpetrators of this crime are caught and brought to justice.”
Cole’s Flea Market is considered the oldest and largest flea market in the Texas city, according to its website. The indoor and outdoor marketplace has more than 1,000 vendors and between 12,000 and 15,000 customers every weekend.
With Post wires