Teen driver in fatal pursuit last year, arrested again after chase near border

EDINBURG, TX -- The teenage driver arrested last year after fleeing a police helicopter that fired on his truck killing two Guatemalan immigrants hiding in the back appeared before a judge Friday after being arrested again allegedly running from authorities near the border.

The 15-year-old, who was not identified because of his age, was arrested by Border Patrol early Thursday near Sullivan City.

Last October, the Texas Department of Public Safety said troopers in the helicopter believed drugs were in the truck's bed when a sharpshooter fired during the pursuit near La Joya. Instead, there were nine Guatemalans, including six under the sheet, and the then 14-year-old driver.

The boy was immediately arrested following that incident and then mistakenly released. He was arrested again in December driving a stolen vehicle.

State district Judge Jesse Contreras told The McAllen Monitor that he had earlier opted for probation for the teen so authorities could deport him. But in June he was arrested, and deported, again.

"It was a choice I made at the time wanting to spend that money on a U.S citizen instead," Contreras said after Friday's court hearing. "Obviously, he didn't learn his lesson and he's been doing this two, three, four times, I am now going to take care of this and help this young man. If it is not done now he will never learn."

Contreras ordered the boy remain in custody Friday.

Irma Bermudez, the boy's grandmother and guardian, said she didn't know why he kept getting into trouble.

"He is a good boy; he was never disrespectful," Bermudez said in Spanish as she wept after the hearing. "I just want someone to help him. I don't want him doing bad things or hanging out with those friends he has."

Also Friday, Hidalgo County District Attorney Rene Guerra said a grand jury had been reviewing evidence in the original DPS shooting incident in recent weeks. He said the sharpshooter, Miguel Avila, could still face charges in the case.

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