Thread: S.Texas cockfight spectator shoots 3 after being tossed

June 1, 2008, 8:11AM
S. Texas cockfight spectator shoots 3 after being tossed



ALTON — South Texas authorities say a man kicked out of an illegal cockfight returned and opened fire on the crowd, shooting two men in the chest and a woman through the wrist.

Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Trevino told The Monitor in McAllen that the two injured men were in surgery following the shootings Saturday evening. Trevino did not know how serious the injuries were.

Trevino says that several people in the crowd exchanged gunfire with the man, who had been kicked out earlier for unruly behavior.

"The only reason we found out about it is because people showed up at the hospital with the bullet wounds," Trevino said. "The owner of the place obviously didn't call the cops. The hospital notified us."

Authorities continue to investigate and still are searching for the man who started the shooting. Trevino says that the regulars did not know his identity.





http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/met ... 12330.html

Cockfight shootout still a mystery

June 1, 2008 - 11:05PM
By Ryan Holeywell and Sean Gaffney/The Monitor
NEAR ALTON - Two men injured in a weekend shootout at a cockfight remained in the hospital Sunday, Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Treviño said.



The melee broke out after a man walked into an illegal cockfight off Western Road and 5 Mile Line near Alton on Saturday evening and shot at members of the crowd who then fired back, Treviño said.



The two men were shot in the upper abdomen and underwent surgery, the sheriff said. They were in stable but critical condition and appeared likely to survive.



One is believed to be the man who instigated the shootout, Treviño said. And another is believed to be someone who fired back.



Authorities had not interviewed either man Sunday, as both were heavily sedated.



Another woman who was hospitalized with gunshot injuries to her wrist and knee is in stable condition, said Mission police spokesman Lt. Martin Garza.



Garza said the woman claimed she was a victim of a carjacking, but there was no gunshot damage to her vehicle and she sought help for her injuries at 7:15 p.m., about the same time the men from the cockfight were reportedly shot.



Treviño said his deputies may put together a photo line-up for witnesses to identify the instigator.



He also said deputies are initiating an investigation into the cockfighting operation itself. If the property owner promoted cockfight gambling, he could be subject to criminal charges and his rural, fenced land seized.



The sheriff said he didn't think his deputies had ever responded to the Western Road property for cockfighting incidents before. He said while his force deals with cockfighting reports, it's often difficult to infiltrate such operation rings.



"Cockfighting is extremely popular in South Texas," Treviño said. "It is also extremely illegal."



The man who allegedly instigated the shooting had been kicked out of the cockfighting venue earlier Saturday for acting unruly but then returned to fire on the crowd. Several in the crowd then pulled out guns and exchanged fire with the man, Treviño said."None of the regulars knew who he was," the sheriff said Saturday. "He was acting up and insulting people, so he got thrown out."



The property owner did not call police about the shooting, Treviño said. Authorities only learned of the situation when those injured sought medical treatment.



http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/news/c ... jured.html

Cockfight shootout still a mystery

June 1, 2008 - 11:05PM
By Ryan Holeywell and Sean Gaffney/The Monitor
NEAR ALTON - Two men injured in a weekend shootout at a cockfight remained in the hospital Sunday, Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Treviño said.



The melee broke out after a man walked into an illegal cockfight off Western Road and 5 Mile Line near Alton on Saturday evening and shot at members of the crowd who then fired back, Treviño said.



The two men were shot in the upper abdomen and underwent surgery, the sheriff said. They were in stable but critical condition and appeared likely to survive.



One is believed to be the man who instigated the shootout, Treviño said. And another is believed to be someone who fired back.



Authorities had not interviewed either man Sunday, as both were heavily sedated.



Another woman who was hospitalized with gunshot injuries to her wrist and knee is in stable condition, said Mission police spokesman Lt. Martin Garza.



Garza said the woman claimed she was a victim of a carjacking, but there was no gunshot damage to her vehicle and she sought help for her injuries at 7:15 p.m., about the same time the men from the cockfight were reportedly shot.



Treviño said his deputies may put together a photo line-up for witnesses to identify the instigator.



He also said deputies are initiating an investigation into the cockfighting operation itself. If the property owner promoted cockfight gambling, he could be subject to criminal charges and his rural, fenced land seized.



The sheriff said he didn't think his deputies had ever responded to the Western Road property for cockfighting incidents before. He said while his force deals with cockfighting reports, it's often difficult to infiltrate such operation rings.



"Cockfighting is extremely popular in South Texas," Treviño said. "It is also extremely illegal."



The man who allegedly instigated the shooting had been kicked out of the cockfighting venue earlier Saturday for acting unruly but then returned to fire on the crowd. Several in the crowd then pulled out guns and exchanged fire with the man, Treviño said."None of the regulars knew who he was," the sheriff said Saturday. "He was acting up and insulting people, so he got thrown out."



The property owner did not call police about the shooting, Treviño said. Authorities only learned of the situation when those injured sought medical treatment.



http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/news/c ... jured.html