Eagle Pass 18 Year Old Young Man Killed in Del Rio, Teen’s Death Still Under Investigation
By: , The Del Rio News-Herald
An 18-year-old Eagle Pass man died here Saturday night in an incident still under investigation by Del Rio Police.
Del Rio Police Department Lt. Bill Rattay, of the department’s criminal investigations division, said officers were dispatched to an area near the intersection of North Main Street and Mary Lou Drive on the city’s north side at 6:17 p.m. after police received a call about an incident involving a motor vehicle.
Rattay said when DRPD Officer Ray Mendoza arrived at the scene, he found 18-year-old Victor Garza lying unmoving on the ground, surrounded by paramedics with an emergency medical services team from Val Verde Regional Medical Center and by Del Rio Fire Department firefighters.
Rattay said when paramedics were unable to detect any vital signs, Mendoza called his supervisor and asked for detectives from the DRPD’s criminal investigations division. He also summoned Justice of the Peace Pct. 1 Jim Bob Barrera Sr.
Barrera pronounced Garza dead at the scene at 7:40 p.m. Saturday, Rattay said.
Barrera also ordered an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of the man’s death.
Rattay said the man’s body was taken to the office of the Webb County Medical Examiner in Laredo, where the autopsy was performed. Rattay said Monday morning he was still awaiting the preliminary findings from that autopsy.
“Based on our preliminary investigation at the scene and statements taken from witnesses, we are investigating this as a fatality motor vehicle incident,” Rattay said Monday.
He said several statements have been taken from witnesses to the incident. Rattay said the area to which police were called was closed for about two hours from 6:17 p.m. until about 8:26 p.m. Saturday.
Rattay declined to comment about why the Eagle Pass man was in Del Rio.
He said the police department’s investigation into the incident is ongoing.
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Reach Karen Gleason at (830) 734-3021 or email her at karen.gleason@delrionewsherald.com
Reprinted by permission of the Del Rio News-Herald.
