BROWNSVILLE — The Cameron County Sheriff’s Department on Thursday announced an arrest in a 2004 homicide case.
Sheriff Omar Lucio said Ciro Cantu Munoz, 42, was arrested Wednesday while trying to cross the B&M International Bridge in Brownsville. Cantu was sought in connection with the shooting death of Jesus Hilario Jimenez, 42.
Lucio said back in March 29, 2004, Jimenez was gunned down while driving his vehicle on Santos Gomez Road and Highway 281 outside Brownsville.
Munoz was indicted by a Cameron County grand jury for causing Jimenez’s death and had been a fugitive for 13 years.
“We responded at about 2:24 p.m. at the intersection of Highway 281 and Santos Gomez Drive in San Benito, Texas, in to reference that an individual had been shot,” Lucio said. “When the officer arrived, they found that the driver (Jimenez) of the vehicle had been shot to death.”
Lucio said according to a witness statement that was given, Jimenez reportedly was dating Munoz’s ex-wife.
“The day Mr. Munoz wanted to visit his children but was told not to go because she was going to visit her boyfriend (Jimenez),” Lucio said. “When (Munoz) approached the area, Mr. Munoz was upset when he saw the victim visit his ex-wife.”
Lucio said while Jimenez was trying to make a left turn on Santos Gomez Drive, Munoz and Jimenez got into a verbal confrontation. Munoz displayed a firearm and started shooting at Jimenez’s vehicle.
Jimenez was struck, suffering a gunshot wound to the head. He died at the scene.
“(Munoz) is going to be taken before the magistrate to see if they set bond or no bond at all because this individual has been a fugitive for about 13 years,” Lucio said. “It’s a good case, and we’ve been working on it for quite a while.”
Lucio said authorities knew Munoz was in Mexico and had information that he would cross over to the United States at times.
“The suspect absconded, and he took off,” Lucio said. “We have been in contact with the Mexican authorities for quite a while, and even though they change personnel over there we still keep in touch with them. So they were aware of (Munoz), and that’s more or less the information where we got it from, that he’s crossing here into the United States.”
