Inmate stabbed 12 times at county jail

OLMITO - Cameron County Sheriff's deputies have not been able to determine the motive behind the attack on an inmate by three other inmates at the Old County Jail.

Authorities said Daniel Alonso Garza, 34, is recovering at Valley Baptist Medical Center-Brownsville from 12 stab wounds. Charged with the attack are inmates Martin Martinez Jr., 25, Samuel Longoria, 35, and Martin Angulo, 20.

"They don't want to release any additional information as to what the motive was. We even had a hard time convincing the victim to file" charges, Chief Gus Reyna said Wednesday, two days after the Monday afternoon attack.

Garza was expected to be released from the hospital either Wednesday afternoon or sometime today. He will be taken back to county jail and placed in an isolated cell.

Garza and his assailants are reported to be gang members of the Texas Syndicate, authorities said.

The group was walking back from the recreational yard to their cell block when the attack occurred, Reyna said.

Garza received 12 puncture wounds to his back area during the attack.

Authorities don't know what type of weapon was used and have not been able to locate it. The injuries were serious enough that Garza was transported to the hospital.

Martinez, Longoria and Angulo have been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. All have been placed in isolated cells.

Jail records show Martinez is in jail on an aggravated robbery charge; Longoria for parole violation; and Angulo for burglary, robbery, escape, theft and evading arrest.

Garza is in jail for parole violation, possession of a prohibited weapon and evading arrest.

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