Search continues for 2023 Laguna Heights murder suspect

LAGUNA HEIGHTS, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Cameron County Sheriff's Office is continuing its search for the suspect in a 2023 murder case.

Jacobo Hernandez-Hernandez is wanted in connection with the murder of 27-year-old Christopher James De Leon, a news release from the Cameron County Sheriff’s Office stated.

Jacobo Hernandez-Hernandez, 42, is wanted for the murder of 7-year-old Christopher James De Leon. (Source: Cameron County Sheriff's Office)

Jacobo Hernandez-Hernandez, 42, is wanted for the murder of 7-year-old Christopher James De Leon. (Source: Cameron County Sheriff's Office)

Background

At approximately 2:30 a.m. on July 25, 2023, authorities responded to the 200 block of Adams Avenue regarding a shooting.

At the scene, deputies found De Leon unresponsive with several gunshot wounds on his body, according to a news release from CCSO.

^{_{Christopher James De Leon (Source: Cameron County Sheriff's Office)}}

Authorities labeled the investigation as a homicide and later identified the suspect as Hernandez.

Moments after committing the crime, Hernandez crossed the bridge to Matamoros, according to the Sheriff's Office. He is now believed to be hiding somewhere in the state of Veracruz.

According to the release, sheriff's investigators obtained an arrest warrant against Hernandez on charges of murder.

In a previous ValleyCentral article, authorities deemed Hernandez armed and dangerous.

Anyone with information on Hernandez’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Cameron County Sheriff’s Office at (956) 554-6700 or the Cameron County Crime Stoppers at (956) 350-5551.