|
Only have a minute? Listen instead
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
SAN BENITO — Two men are facing capital murder charges in the shooting death of a San Benito police officer during two chases stretching from South Padre Island to Brownsville that erupted in gunfire.
A judge was expected to arraign Rodrigo Axel Espinoza Valdez, 23, a Mexican national, and Rogelio Martinez, 18, of Brownsville, on capital murder charges stemming from the shooting death of Lt. Milton Resendez. The 27-year police department veteran is the city’s first officer killed in the line of duty.
The shooting occurred as authorities pursued the suspects from late Tuesday afternoon to about midnight.
At about 4:30 p.m., a Cameron County park ranger pulled over a red GMC truck for speeding on a South Padre Island beach, identifying the two men riding along with two women and two small children, Cameron County District Attorney Luis V. Saenz told reporters Wednesday during a news conference at the San Benito Police Station.
Suddenly, the truck drove away before the men dropped off the women and children, whom authorities detained for questioning, officials said.
Shooting
In Port Isabel, a Cameron County constable spotted the fleeing truck before state troopers joined the pursuit heading toward Brownsville, where the suspects exchanged gunfire with officers, Saenz said.
Authorities stopped shooting amid concern of striking residents, and lost track of the suspects, he said.
Amid a search in Brownsville, authorities spotted the suspects riding in a black Ford Expedition at about 10:30 p.m. before troopers pursued the truck, Saenz said.
At about 10:58 p.m., near Business 77 and Sam Houston Boulevard in San Benito, Resendez spotted the truck before one of the suspects fired two rounds into his vehicle. One struck its door, the bullet entering beneath the officer’s bulletproof vest, San Benito Police Chief Mario Perea said, adding two bullets hit the officer’s truck.
“The suspects shot an unknown amount of rounds at Lt. Resendez,” he said.
Resendez was pronounced dead at Valley Baptist Medical Center.
From San Benito, authorities pursued the truck to Browsnville, where troopers arrested them, Saenz said.
Fallen hero
Resendez, a 27-year police department veteran related to former San Benito City Commissioner Valente Resendez, served as second vice president with the San Benito Police Association.
“It’s hard right now. He’s one of the family,” Perea told reporters. “He was a great guy. Everybody liked him. He cared for his guys. He did 30 years as a police officer, which is a great accomplishment.”
At the podium, Saenz called it “a tragic, solemn day for Cameron County and the state of Texas.”
”It’s a solemn reminder of what these folks do on a daily basis,” he said. “Lt. Resendez didn’t come home. There will be justice for the family of Lt. Resendez.”
Toward the back of conference room, family members held Missy Resendez, Resendez’s wife, as she cried.
“Lt. Resendez was an awesome person — an awesome officer,” Mayor Rick Guerra said after the news conference. “He was well-liked in the community. The city, his wife and children, lost a great person.”
Before the news conference, Guerra said Resendez is the first San Benito police officer killed in the line of duty.
“There’s a wound on the city, on the police officers, on the department,” Guerra said. “The last thing I’d expect in our city — to be killed in the line of duty. We’ll do our best to deal with it.”
The gunshots fired into Resendez’s truck echoed through nearby North Shore Drive, home to many city leaders.
“My wife heard three gunshots then we heard a bunch of sirens,” City Commissioner Pete Galvan said. “We were just hoping they weren’t gunshots. Then we woke up to all this disturbing news. We lost an officer. The community will feel this for years to come.”
At an Auto Zone store near the scene of the Resendez’s death, Martin Garcia said the officer’s killing shows more violence is spreading into the area.
“It’s a tight-knit community,” the parts manager said. “You get to know these guys personally. You really don’t think of things like this in a small city. It gives you more awareness of what’s going on.”
Hearts across Texas
Across the Rio Grande Valley and the state, police officers, police departments and local governments offered their prayers.
“He made the ultimate sacrifice while serving his community last night and our entire law enforcement family grieves alongside you,” Brownsville police officials posted on Facebook. “Lt. Resendez dedicated his life to protecting and serving and his legacy of honor and commitment will forever be remembered.”
Across the state, hearts were grieving for Resendez’s family, Gov. Greg Abbott said in a statement.
“Hearts across Texas grieve with the family and loved ones of the San Benito police officer whose life was tragically taken while protecting his fellow Texans,” Abbott said. “This senseless act is a solemn reminder of the selfless risks our law enforcement officers take every single day when they put on the badge.”
Fifth officer killed since 2019
In the Valley, Resendez becomes the fifth police officer to die in the line of duty since 2019.
In Mission, on June 20, 2019, Cpl. Jose Luis “Speedy” Espericueta, 44, an 18-year veteran, was killed.
The suspect: Juan Carlos Chapa Jr.
In the area of Stewart Road and Business Highway 83, a woman flagged down Mission police officers, telling them her son, Juan Carlos Chapa Jr., had shot at her car with a handgun.
In response, Espericueta and other officers found Chapa, who fled on foot, turned and opened fire.
Chapa struck Espericueta multiple times while other officers returned fire, killing the man.
In McAllen, Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Moises Sanchez, 49, died Aug. 24, 2019, after serving four years.
The suspect: Victor Alejandro Godinez.
On April 6, 2019, Sanchez responded to a hit-and-run crash at the intersection of North 10th Street and West Freddy Gonzalez Drive, then found the suspect about a block away.
When Sanchez tried to arrest Godinez, the suspect shot him, striking him in the shoulder and head in the 1500 block of South Maltese Street.
Sanchez, who appeared on the road to recovery, died following surgery Aug. 24, 2019.
Godinez is currently during the jury selection process of his trial and if he is convicted, prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.
On July 11, 2020, McAllen police Officer Edelmiro “Eddie” Garza Jr., 45, a nine-year veteran, and Officer Ismael “Smiley” Z. Chavez, 39, a 2 1/2-year veteran, were killed.
Suspect: Audon Ignacio Caramillo, 23.
In the 3500 block of Quete Street, the officers were responding to a domestic disturbance call when they were ambushed and shot.
Caramillo killed himself as police arrived on the scene.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated with new information.
