Laredo PD: Victim shot by police, not suspect, in early morning shooting that left officer injured

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A Laredo police officer allegedly shot one of the victims in the shootout that occurred in the 100 block of Knoll Avenue, authorities said late Monday.

READ MORE: Man who shot Laredo officer, two others, 'wanted to die' by police

Initial reports accused Cesar Rene Terrazas, 22, of shooting the mother of his ex-girlfriend, her brother and a cop. But now police are saying that an officer shot the brother of the ex-girlfriend when he came out of the house carrying the firearm used by Terrazas.

Authorities also announced that as per administrative procedure, officers Anthony Whitehawk Cabello, a 7-year veteran; Eduardo Benavides, a 1-year rookie; and David Hinojosa, a 27-year veteran; are currently on administrative reassignment, pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation.

The preliminary investigation shows that the three officers discharged their weapons 14 times throughout the incident while Terrazas fired more than 80 rounds in the shooting.

Furthermore, Terrazas is facing an additional charge of one count of terroristic threat, family violence. He was previously charged with two counts of attempted capital murder, three counts of aggravated assault of a date, family, household member with a deadly weapon and one count of burglary of habitation with intent to commit other felony.

The case unfolded at about 5:42 a.m. Nov. 26 in the 100 block of Knoll Avenue. Officers had responded to a disturbance reported in the 100 block of Knoll. Terrazas had gone looking for his ex-girlfriend of 2 ½ years. They had been separated for about six months, according to an arrest affidavit.

Terrazas allegedly ambushed the responding officers with his AR-15. He was parked across the street from the neighbor’s house and inside his vehicle. During the encounter, Cabello was shot in the right leg. Backup officers were also met with gunfire, according to police.

Terrazas continued firing shots and made his way to his ex-girlfriend’s home on Knoll. He eventually broke into the home. Once inside the house, Terrazas shot a locked bedroom door where the 19-year-old ex-girlfriend, her 52-year-old mother and her 21-year-old brother were seeking shelter, police said.

Authorities said the trio fought and disarmed Terrazas. In the struggle, Terrazas shot the mother twice in the upper torso, according to police.

Shots fired inside the home exited from the dwelling in the direction of police officers, authorities said.

“After several minutes, a male subject then exited the home with an assault weapon in his hands and charged toward LPD officers. At this point, an LPD officer discharged a single shot at the male subject carrying the assault rifle in an attempt to end the threat. It was later confirmed that the man carrying the assault rifle was the 21-year-old brother of the former girlfriend and not Terrazas,” police said in a statement.

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All injured parties were taken to local hospitals for treatment. Cabello and the mother were treated and released. The brother remains in the hospital. The ex-girlfriend was unharmed, authorities said.