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The FBI on Saturday arrested a man at the Falfurrias Border Patrol checkpoint who they accuse of shooting at an unidentified individual on April 16 after that person bought cocaine from an alleged McAllen drug dealer four days prior.
Barbarito Gonzalez, a U.S. citizen born in 1988, made a first appearance Monday morning in McAllen federal court on charges of discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence; attempted kidnapping; violations of the Travel Act; carjacking; and aiding and abetting.
He is being temporarily held without bond pending further proceedings, court records indicate.
The shooting happened after the April 12 drug deal allegedly involving Gerardo Javier Ochoa, who is charged with possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance, namely 260 grams of cocaine.
Ochoa’s April 21 arrest followed a meeting between the FBI and an individual who was in possession of the cocaine, according to the criminal complaint for his arrest.
“On or about said date, FBI also obtained video and audio footage documenting that the individual had purchased said cocaine from Gerardo Ochoa in McAllen, Texas on said date,” that complaint stated, referring to the April 12 drug deal.
Ochoa is currently in federal custody.
The complaint against Gonzalez also mentions Ochoa’s arrest and said it happened after the FBI obtained video and audio footage documenting that “Individual 1” purchased the drugs.
Four days after the drug deal, Gonzalez’s complaint said “Individual 1” met with Ochoa at an illegal gambling establishment in Hidalgo County.
“After meeting with Ochoa, Individual 1 was shot at approximately 2:00 am on April 17, 2023 in Hidalgo County, Texas,” the complaint stated.
The FBI has obtained video surveillance showing the shooting that depicts a red Chevrolet Silverado using red and blue lights associated with law enforcement to conduct a “pseudo traffic stop” on a BMW X5 driven by “Individual 1.”
“After Individual 1 stopped his vehicle, two individuals emerged from the Silverado and approached Individual 1 and his vehicle,” the complaint stated. “As Individual 1 attempted to leave the scene, the two individuals discharged their respective firearms multiple times.”
This is when “Individual 1” was shot and taken to a local hospital for medical attention, according to the complaint.
The FBI also obtained surveillance video that showed multiple individuals met with Ochoa prior to “Individual 1” arriving at the illegal gambling establishment, according to the complaint.
“Based on the surveillance footage, which is of high quality, FBI Agents believed that at least one of the individuals meeting with Ochoa was Barabrito Gonzalez and another individual identified by FBI Agents as Individual 2,” the complaint stated.
A search of databases revealed Gonzalez lived in Illinois, but used the same red Chevrolet Silverado seen in the shooting.
“Port of Entry records also revealed Gonzalez making entry into the United States in April 2023,” the complaint stated. “License plate readers also captured the license plates to Gonzalez’s Silverado multiple times in the Rio Grande Valley in April 2023.”
There’s also phone calls the FBI has listened to between various people referenced in the complaint, including “Ochoa, Individual 1, and Individual 2, that were made prior to the shooting of Individual 1.”
“Within at least one of the phone calls made on or about April 12, 2023, Individual 2 accused Individual 1 of previously stealing 2 kilograms of cocaine,” the complaint stated. “Individual 2 stated that Individual 1 would have to pay for the cocaine or travel to Mexico to discuss the cocaine theft.
“Individual 1 denied stealing the cocaine on the phone call and declined to travel to Mexico. Ochoa was also a party to the referenced phone call.”
Telephone records obtained by the FBI show that Ochoa and “Individual 2” had significant communication with each other. Those records also indicate that Ochoa and “Individual 2” were in communication with Gonzalez for approximately 30 minutes prior to the shooting, according to the complaint.
After Ochoa’s arrest, the complaint said he told FBI agents that “Individual 2” approached him at the gambling establishment to ask whether “Individual 1” drove a BMW and whether he would be coming to the establishment.
“Ochoa stated that Individual 2 was in the company of other individuals, including Gonzalez,” the complaint stated.
On Friday, the FBI saw Gonzalez’s Silverado at the known residence of “Individual 2,” according to the complaint.
The next day, Gonzalez tried to leave the Rio Grande Valley through the Falfurrias checkpoint.
“FBI Agents responded to the checkpoint and attempted to interview Gonzalez and another passenger … in the Silverado,” the complaint stated.
Gonzalez, who was shown surveillance video of the gambling establishment, told the FBI that he was in the video, but that he denied any involvement in the shooting.
“FBI Agents interviewed the passenger in Gonzalez’s vehicle, who claimed they had traveled to the gambling establishment to gamble,” the complaint stated. “The passenger stated that he, Individual 2, and Gonzalez are cousins.
“However, surveillance footage reviewed showed the group of individuals did not gamble.”
Gonzalez is being temporarily held without bond pending further court proceedings.
