Reynosa man charged after victim survives execution-style shooting

March 16, 2010 10:35 PM
Ana Ley

McALLEN — A Reynosa man was charged with attempted capital murder after a kidnapping victim survived his own execution-style shooting Sunday night.

Jose Luis Ventura, 28, was given a $2 million bond during an arraignment hearing Tuesday evening in McAllen Municipal Court. The Mexican citizen remained incarcerated Tuesday evening.

If convicted of the first-degree felony, Ventura could face up to life in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

The victim, a Pharr man, remained at McAllen Medical Center in stable condition Tuesday evening, McAllen police Sgt. Joel Morales said. The man managed to call relatives after a group of suspected drug smugglers kidnapped him, shot him in the leg and drove him to a secluded area. There, they forced him on his knees, shot him in the back of the head and pushed him down a levee, according to a police affidavit in the case.

A second victim, Juan Rangel Hernandez, 21, was also shot in the leg, but he managed to get away from his captors and sought help. Police believe Rangel lied to investigators about the incident, although they did not specify how. Morales said the man was released from McAllen Medical Center soon after the attack.

Rangel was charged Tuesday in McAllen Municipal Court with providing a false report, a Class B misdemeanor. He was being held at the Hidalgo County Jail on Tuesday evening in lieu of a $3,000 bond.

The two victims had voluntarily met with Ventura and several other men about 10:30 p.m. at the parking lot of a Walmart store at 1200 E. Jackson Ave. The victims got into a black Chevrolet truck and rode away with the suspects, one of whom shot Rangel in the right leg with a handgun while Ventura drove the vehicle away from the store, according to police records.

Rangel unlocked a truck door and ran toward a medical supply store, where someone called police.

The second victim told police he had also been shot in the leg.

He was moved to a white Chevrolet Tahoe at a Shell gas station at 620 E. Ridge Road and was taken to a secluded area near the 1400 block of East Ridge Road.

There, the group allegedly tried to kill him.

Once his attackers left, he called relatives and was taken to the intensive care unit at McAllen Medical Center, according to the police affidavit. Hospital workers treated him for gunshot wounds to the head, left hand and right leg. He also had several lacerations on his left wrist.

Investigators located the black pickup — covered in blood spatter — at the Shell gas station.

A shirtless, muddy Ventura was found later that night at a hotel in South McAllen. The suspect told police he had been robbed, giving investigators conflicting information about the alleged theft. Eventually, the Reynosa man admitted to driving the black Chevrolet truck used during the kidnapping.

Police continue to look for “multipleâ€