Mercedes shooting suspect found

MERCEDES — Police found an Iraq war veteran who allegedly shot another man early Tuesday morning.

Officers found Oscar Garcia about 1:10 p.m. Tuesday, about 11 hours after an alleged shooting outside his house at 1014 S. Garza Ave.

"It's wondreful news," said Mercedes police Capt. Eduardo Treviño. "It kind of puts people a little bit more at ease."

Officers responded to a man down outside Garcia's residence shortly after 2 a.m. Tuesday, said Treviño. Neighbors told police the 28-year-old had shot a man at least twice and was hiding inside the house.

Police got no answer at the front door of the house, so they called in the Weslaco police SWAT team to try and coax Garcia, who was believed to be hidning inside.

Finally, shortly after 8 a.m., the SWAT team set off a flash-bang grenade and stormed the house, only to find Garcia not there.

Adan Alonzo of Mercedes, a friend of Garcia, said he is a U.S. Army veteran who served in Iraq about three years ago. "He must have panicked," Alonzo said. "He should have stayed."

The Mercedes school district put five of its campuses on lockdown as they searched for Garcia throughout the morning. The lockdown was lifted after police apprehended Garcia shortly after 1 p.m. Tuesday.

Police have not released the identity of the victim, but said he remains in stable condition at Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen.

Treviño said Garcia likely faces aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charges — a second degree felony that carries a maximum 20-year prison sentence and $10,000 fine upon conviction.