SAN BENITO — A local man remained on the run yesterday evening, wanted as a suspect in the shooting of a woman who remains hospitalized.
The San Benito Police Department reported Jose Luis Garcia, Jr. was involved in the yesterday morning shooting at his residence on the 300 block of Jay Street and Sam Houston Street.
Garcia, who has a shaved head with tattoos, was last seen running from the residence and in between houses wearing only pajama pants and no shirt.
Federal, state and local law enforcement agencies responded to the scene and conducted the manhunt, including agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Border Patrol, Texas Department of Public Safety and Cameron County Sheriff’s Department.
In addition to the manhunt, a helicopter was deployed to patrol the neighborhood, and a K-9 was used to search along the drainage ditches in the area.
Police did not release any information about the woman, other than to say she was being treated at a local hospital. Her condition was not reported.
As a precautionary measure, San Benito CISD officials issued campus lockdowns for Dr. C.M. Cash Elementary, Dr. Raul Garza, Jr. STEAM Academy, Ed Downs Elementary, Sullivan Elementary, Berta Cabaza Middle School and Miller Jordan Middle School.
Students were dismissed at regular times, but all after-school activities were canceled.
District officials confirmed all schools were in lockdown following district protocol. Students and campus personnel were not in any danger.
Authorities urge anyone with information about Garcia’s whereabouts to call the San Benito Police Department at (956) 361-3880.
