EDITOR’S NOTE: This article has been updated to remove the name of the man who was shot. Conflicting reports from the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office have made the man’s identity unclear.
A 19-year-old man who was shot by an Edcouch police officer four times in connection to a theft on Easter Sunday was formally arraigned on Monday, according to the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office.
The man was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Jason Peña and charged with an aggravated assault against a public servant, a first-degree felony.
The identity of the officer who shot him was not revealed.
On Sunday, the Edcouch Police Department received a call at 8:13 a.m. of a theft at the Dollar General store located in the 1400 block Santa Rosa Avenue.
Sheriff’s investigators said in the release that Edcouch police officers were given a description of the suspect, who left on foot.
According to the release, an Edcouch police officer approached the man, who was in close proximity to the store. However, investigators said he held “a large knife” and was instructed “multiple times” to drop the knife, but refused.
“After several attempts to disarm (the man) with verbal commands, the Edcouch Police (sic) discharged his firearm, striking the suspect multiple times,” the release stated.
However, it’s worth nothing that on Sunday, the man was said to become aggressive, grabbed a knife out of his waistband, then “ran towards the officer to attack him,” Edcouch Police Chief Roel Guerra said then.
The release, sent out to the media by the county’s sheriff’s office, does not state the man either became aggressive or ran toward the officer to attack him.
After the officer shot him, investigators said the man was transported to a local hospital and received emergency medical assistance.
More specifically, Guerra said first responders treated the man’s gunshot wounds at the scene, before being transported to a local hospital.
The man’s bond was set at $200,000.
The sheriff’s office encourages anyone with information regarding this investigation to “please come forward” and contact (956) 383-8114. Tips can be shared anonymously by calling the sheriff’s office Crime Stoppers hotline at (956) 668-TIPS or submit an anonymous tip through the app “P3 TIPS.”
