A U.S. Border Patrol agent in Texas is accused of trying to kill the mother of his child when she attempted to end their relationship, KENS reported.
Ricardo Cepeda, Jr., 33, of Mission, Texas, an 11-year veteran of the Border Patrol, is charged with attempted murder and two counts of endangerment of a child, KEYE reported. Judge Terry Palacios set a $800,000 bond, the television station reported.
According to Edinburg police, Cepeda wounded Brenda Hernandez, 34, in front of their 1-year-old daughter early Sunday, KENS reported.
Edinburg police spokesman Lt. Oscar Trevino said Monday that when Hernandez tried to end their relationship, Cepeda allegedly grabbed the child and fired two rounds from a pistol, KVEO reported. Investigators said they found Hernandez inside an SUV with two gunshot wounds to her upper back, KENS reported.
“It sounded like someone had a hammer, pounding against our wooden fence,” Cepeda’s neighbor, Pristela Urbina, told the television station.
Hernandez is recovering at a hospital and is in stable condition, said police.
“What was disturbing was that (Hernandez) she reported that Cepeda was holding the child at the same time that he was discharging the weapon towards her,” Trevino said at a Monday news conference. “This is an isolated incident and this in no way should reflect negatively against our U.S. Border Patrol agents.”
Hernandez is recovering at a local hospital.
If convicted, Cepeda could be sentenced to between two and 20 years in prison, KEYE reported.
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