Uncle faces murder charge in rural Mission shooting
Hidalgo County investigators believe a family gathering turned deadly over the weekend in an argument over money.
At about 6 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, sheriff deputies were called out to the 7000 block of Military Road outside of Mission. Jorge Valero, 30, had been shot once in the head and was found dead outside a house.
Valero’s family had gathered Friday, Nov. 21, at around 2 p.m. to celebrate a birthday or a birth, said sheriff’s office spokesman Joel Rivera, adding “there was a lot of drinking being done.”
When authorities arrived on the scene, they were told a car had pulled up in the early morning and shot at the house, hitting the victim in the head.
Everyone at the house was questioned as a witness, and Rivera said investigators eventually arrested Javier Garza Amaya, Valero’s uncle.
“As the investigation unfolded, our investigation shifted from him being a witness to a suspect … His story wasn’t quite right,” Rivera said. “(Officers) worked until they culminated their investigation with a confession of the accused.”
Valero was shot with a 9 mm gun, and Rivera said the weapon has been recovered. Officers believe the shooting occurred during an argument between the two over money owed to Amaya from one of Valero’s acquaintances.
Pct. 4, Place 2 Justice of the Peace Homer Jasso arraigned Amaya Monday on a first-degree murder charge and set his bond at $1 million. Rivera said he understands Amaya has a prior conviction for murder in Mexico, but the county has no way of corroborating that fact.
