Hidalgo County sheriff to discuss murder, officer shooting

MISSION, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office is hosting a press conference to provide information regarding the murder investigation and officer-involved shooting that took place over the weekend.

Hidalgo County Sheriff Eddie Guerra is scheduled to speak with the press at 11 a.m.

Background

At approximately 1:47 a.m. on Saturday, deputies responded to the 2400 block of Venecia Street regarding a man lying on the road with multiple gunshot wounds, according to a previous ValleyCentral report.

At the scene, the responding deputies immediately attempted life-saving measures. The victim, identified as 36-year-old Felipe Mancilla, was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

“Major Crimes investigators were called to the scene, collected evidence and developed information that revealed our suspect’s information,” Sheriff Guerra told the media on Saturday.

Investigators believe the suspect went to buy drugs, Guerra stated.

“We believe our suspect here went to that residence to buy drugs, evidence there at the residence and evidence collected at the scene show [the suspect] to purchase narcotics from the [victim],” Guerra explained during the conference.

Deputies responded to the 1000 block of Pine Drive in Alton, where they located the suspect’s vehicle.

Law enforcement set up a perimeter and obtained a search warrant and the SWAT team was called for assistance.

Just after 7 a.m., the SWAT team entered the building to serve the warrant. As they were announcing themselves and clearing the building, the suspect was found in the bedroom and opened fire at the SWAT operator, Sheriff Guerra confirmed.

“The suspect opened fire at the SWAT operator, the SWAT operator, we believe, took a round to his head, but he was wearing a Kevlar helmet but that round lodged into his bicep,” said Sheriff Guerra.

Deputies returned fire and fatally shot the suspect, later identified as  51-year-old Paulino Guerra Jr. from Alton, the report stated.

The SWAT team member was taken to a local hospital by personnel, where he is reported to have non-life-threatening injuries.

In a media conference held on Saturday, Sheriff Guerra said the deputy who was shot, along with a dozen of the SWAT team operators, were put on administrative leave as standard protocol.

This is an ongoing investigation.