Dad said get guns, son tells deputies

BROWNSVILLE — In the pre-dawn hours Tuesday before a federal agent was shot, a Hargill man told two sons to “get the guns” because a suspicious vehicle was near their rural home, authorities said.

Pedro Alvarado, 41, and Arnoldo Alvarado, 18, appeared before a federal magistrate in McAllen on Thursday in the shooting that wounded Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Kelton Harrison.

They've been charged with assault of a federal officer and knowingly using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Both were ordered held without bail pending a Tuesday court appearance.

The second son, a 16-year-old, was charged with attempted capital murder in state juvenile court and was ordered detained pending another hearing later this month.

Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Treviño said the feds asked him to pursue state charges against the 16-year-old because the federal system is not designed to prosecute juveniles.

“He attempted to kill a law enforcement officer. That is a capital offense in the state system,” Treviño said. “He has absolutely no business walking away from attempting to kill a federal agent.”

He said the youth “gave a complete confession implicating himself, his father, and his brother in the attempted murder,” and that he wants the youth certified as an adult “because he has committed an adult crime.”

Two illegal immigrants from El Salvador were found in the Alvarados' home, authorities said. They haven't been charged in the shooting but were listed as material witnesses. The Alvarados are U.S. citizens.

Arnoldo Alvarado told investigators that after the agent's vehicle was spotted, the three got into their vehicle, with his father driving, Arnoldo in the front passenger seat and the 16-year-old in the rear passenger seat.

They drove with their lights off and came upon a silver vehicle parked without its lights on, he said. Sources close to the investigation said Harrison's vehicle was unmarked.

The 16-year-old fired his .22-caliber rifle about six times at the vehicle, Arnoldo told authorities. He said he fired two rounds of his 9 mm handgun into the air and more rounds toward the vehicle.

Harrison, who authorities said had been conducting surveillance in anticipation of a drug deal, drove north with Pedro in pursuit and Arnoldo continuing to fire, the young man said.

Harrison drove for several miles before he lost control of his vehicle. Fellow agents found him with a gunshot wound in the back, and rushed him to the hospital.

The shooting occurred about 3:30 a.m., authorities said.

Investigators took the Alvarados to FBI offices in McAllen for questioning after searching the home and finding the two illegal immigrants, authorities said. The charges were filed Wednesday afternoon.

“The announcement of these arrests related to the shooting of our HSI special agent is a testament to the close cooperation among our law enforcement partners,” ICE Director John Morton said in a statement. “We are encouraged by this action to bring these criminals to justice.”

Harrison, an HSI special agent in McAllen since 2010, underwent surgery in McAllen on Tuesday and was expected to recover.

Sheriff's deputies and local police assisted the FBI and HSI in investigating the crime scene, along with the Texas Department of Public Safety and Texas Rangers.

The two older Alvarados face up to 20 years in prison plus a $250,000 fine if convicted of the assault charge and a minimum of 10 years in prison plus a $250,000 fine if convicted of the firearm charge.