UPDATE: NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN DESERT SHOOTING CASE
3850 Justice Dr. El Paso, Texas 79938
NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Deputy Jesse Tovar / PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Direct: (915) 538-2223
Pager: (915) 533-0733 (#5370)
Release Date & Time: Friday, February 27, 2009 9:15 AM
WHO: EL PASO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE (PATROL DIVISION / CID)
WHAT: GUNSHOT VICTIM FILES CHARGES
WHEN: MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2009 11:05 PM
WHERE: DESERT AREA BEHIND THE SOCORRO STUDENT ACTIVITY CENTER (SAC)
WHY: VICTIM FILES CHARGES
UPDATE: The 18 year-old gunshot victim Cassandra Sandoval (18) of the 400 block of Gallagher El Paso, TX contacted Sheriff's Investigators & has now requested to file Criminal Charges for being shot while hanging out with friends late Monday night, 02-23-09 at 11:05 PM. Sheriff’s Detectives are continuing their investigation on this AGGRAVATED ASSAULT W/ DEADLY WEAPON case which is remains unsolved. It is unknown who fired the shots or from which direction the shots came from.
“We will intensify our patrols in this area & we warn underage party goers to stay away from trespassing on this private property” said Deputy Jesse Tovar EPCSO PIO
Detectives are urging anyone who may have been out there to come forward & provide any information or if anyone knows who is responsible for the shooting, please contact Detective Fernando Garcia(915) at 535-2291 or Crime Stoppers of El Paso at (915) 566-TIPS (8477).
Background:
EL PASO, TEXAS- Late Monday night 02-23-09 at approximately 11:05 PM, Sheriff Deputies were dispatched to R.E. Thomason Hospital in reference to a female victim suffering from a gunshot wound which occurred in El Paso County, TX. Deputies arrived a short time later and met the 18 year-old Victim who had a gunshot wound to her leg. The victim told Deputies earlier that night (about 9:00 PM) she and her two friends were in the desert area behind the Socorro Student Activity Center (SAC). The Victim stated she and her friends could hear quads and gun fire in the distance but did not think anything about it. The Victim stated one of the times they heard gun fire & she suddenly felt a burning sensation on her left thigh and then a sharp pain in her right ankle. The Victim did not know what happened until her friends pointed out & told her she was bleeding. The Victim’s friends placed her in a vehicle and transported her to Thomason Hospital.
According to Medical staff, it appears that the bullet entered the Victim`s left outer thigh, exited through the inner thigh and embedded it self in the inner part of her ankle. Emergency Staff stated they would not be taking the bullet out due it causing more damage to the Victim`s ankle.
PREVIOUS INCIDENT SEE BELOW:
(SHERIFF’S OFFICE ARCHIVES: SATURDAY, AUGUST 25, 2007 CASE REMAINS OPEN)
EL PASO COUNTY, TX – SATURDAY, AUGUST 25, 2007 11:30 PM
Preliminary Investigation:
El Paso County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to 12700 Starduster in Far East El Paso County in reference to a shooting that had just occurred. Prior to their arrival deputies were advised that the female victim was transported to Del Sol Hospital by witnesses. The victim was then transported by ambulance to R.E. Thomason Hospital. When deputies arrived at the scene they met with witnesses and located the crime scene. While deputies were securing the crime scene some unknown suspects(s) began to shoot at the direction of the deputies. Deputies then took cover and attempted to locate where the shots were coming from. None of the deputies were injured. Deputies did not return fire.
El Paso County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team, El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Crisis Negotiation Team, Texas Department of Public Safety Troopers, U.S. Border Patrol Agents, and officers from the Horizon City Police Department were called to assist. Deputies and other assisting officers covered approximately 4 square miles of desert area attempting to locate other possible victims, witnesses, and or suspects. Deputies located and detained four individuals in the desert area that had weapons. It is unknown at this time if the individuals were involved in the shooting.
The deceased was identified as Thelma Fierro (14 years old) of the 8500 block of Tigris, El Paso, Texas. She was pronounced dead at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, August 26, 2007. She died at R.E. Thomason General Hospital as a result of her injuries.
“We appreciate those individuals who have come forward with information. We encourage anyone who was at the incident Saturday night to continue to call us with any information. Some people may think the information they have to offer is of no value, it is best to allow law enforcement to make that determination,” said Sergeant Jim Belknap, Criminal Investigation Division, El Paso County Sheriff’s Office- AUGUST 2007.
The above mentioned case remains open- The Sheriff’ s Office urges anyone who may have any information pertaining to this unsolved Homicide to please come forward and contact the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office at 546-2280 or Crime Stoppers of El Paso at (915) 566-TIPS (8477). ALL CALLERS WILL REMAIN ANONYMOUS.
END OF NEWS RELEASE
The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office in March of 2001 was the first Sheriff’s Office in the State of Texas to be Internationally Accredited from CALEA and is now the recipient of the First CALEA Tri-Arc award in Texas (4th in the Nation) to have accreditations in: Law Enforcement, Communications, Training Academy.