Alleged Harlingen cop shooter indicted

August 27, 2008 - 9:16PM
By Laura B. Martinez, The Brownsville Herald
A Mexican national accused of firing as many as 10 gunshots at a Harlingen police officer in an ambush-type attack was indicted Wednesday on an attempted capital murder charge.

A Cameron County grand jury also indicted Abraham Mar, 19, on a count of evading arrest and two counts of tampering with or fabricating physical evidence.

The four-count indictment was handed down Wednesday afternoon. Mar remains in custody at the Carrizalez-Rucker Detention Center on a $1.01 million bond.

Mar is accused of shooting at Harlingen Police officer Carlos Diaz multiple times as the officer allegedly tried to pull him over during a traffic stop the evening of June 25 at F Street and West Buchanan Avenue.

Diaz, who was still in the driver's seat, was shot in the right shoulder and the forearm, and one bullet grazed his head, officials said.

The officer was hospitalized for approximately 11 days.

Police described the shooting as an "ambush" on Diaz.

The attempted capital murder indictment alleges that Mar intended to commit the offense of capital murder by shooting at Diaz, but "failed to effect the commission of the offense intended."

Commenting on the indictments, Cameron County District Attorney Armando Villalobos said, "we are going to aggressively prosecute these types of violent crimes. For the protection of our community, life imprisonment should be imposed if he is found guilty. That is what we will seek."

Photographs of Diaz's police car appeared to show nine bullet holes in the windshield with a tenth hole in the edge of the roof just above the windshield, according to Valley Freedom Newspapers archives.

One photograph also appeared to show nine shell casings on the pavement.

After the shooting, Mar allegedly fled the scene and tried to make his way to Mexico. However, authorities suspect he drove the car into the Rio Grande near the Gateway International Bridge in Brownsville.

He was arrested by Mexican authorities in Matamoros on June 26, the day after the shooting, in connection with the incident, officials said.

Mar is originally from San Luis PotosÃ*, Mexico, but lived in Harlingen long enough to accumulate a lengthy criminal record as a juvenile and adult, said Jason Moody, spokesman for the District Attorney's Office, in a previous interview.

Mar's prior criminal charges have included three aggravated assaults, an assault on a public servant, burglary of a habitation, deadly conduct (discharging a firearm at a person), credit card abuse and escape.

The last charge was issued hours before the shooting in Harlingen and Mar had bonded out of jail on that charge, according to police.

Most of the prior charges were filed when Mar was a juvenile, authorities said. Mar has not yet been to court on all the charges, officials said.

AT A GLANCE

Accused of shooting a Harlingen police officer, Abraham Mar, 19, was indicted by a Cameron County grand jury on Wednesday. Here's a look at the charges:

Count One: Criminal attempt capital murder with deadly weapon - Intent to commit the offense of capital murder by shooting at Harlingen Police officer Carlos Diaz.

Count Two: Evading arrest - While using a vehicle did intentionally flee from Nathan Rodriguez a person Mar knew was a police officer.

Count Three: Tampering with or fabricating physical evidence - Intentionally or knowingly tried to conceal or alter or destroy a motor vehicle with intent to impair its availability as evidence in the investigation.

Count Four: Tampering with or fabricating physical evidence - Intentionally or knowingly tried to conceal or alter or destroy a firearm with intent to impair its availability as evidence in the investigation.

Source: Cameron County District Clerk's office



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