U.S. Border Patrol Agent Charged with Killing Four People 

By: Miguel Munoz, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2018

A ten (10) year U.S. Border Patrol Agent veteran in Laredo, Texas has been charged with killing four people and attempting to kill a fifth person during a two week crime spree in this U.S.-Mexico border community and arrested after fleeing from Texas Department of Public Safety Troopers when they sought to confront him at a gas station and eventually capturing him at a parking garage of a Laredo Hotel on Saturday, September 15, 2018.

Border Patrol Agent Juan David Ortiz, age 35, is now being detained at the Webb County Jail following his arrest on Saturday, September 15th, and has been charged with four counts of first degree murder, one count of aggravated assault, and one count of unlawful restraint.

Ortiz has been described as a “serial killer” by Webb County Sheriff Martin Cuellar.  Law enforcement was able to detain identify and arrest Ortiz because he kidnapped a woman, Erika Pena, and attempted to kill her on Friday, September 14th, but the woman escaped from Ortiz’s pick-up truck and ran towards another nearby gas station where a DPS Trooper happened to be and advised him of Ortiz kidnapping her and attempted murder of her.  

Law Enforcement immediately put a look out for Ortiz in the Gateway City (Laredo) and eventually arrested him at a Hotel parking lot without incident.

Ortiz is charged with killing three women and one man during the two week crime spree in Webb County.  The first victim was Melissa Ramirez, age 29, who was killed by Oritz on September 3rd. Her body was found on September 4th near Camino Colombia Road in Laredo. The second victim was Claudine Anne Luera, age 42, whom Oritz killed on Thursday. After his arrest, Ortiz admitted to killing another woman and a man in Laredo. All victims were shot by Ortiz. 

The U.S. Border Patrol issued a statement that they are cooperating with all Law Enforcement agencies investigating these tragic incidents and Ortiz.  The Border Patrol statement indicated that criminal action by employees of the Border Patrol is not, and will not, be tolerated.

Some of the victims were mothers with children. This gruesome crime spree has stunned the community of Laredo, particularly that a U.S. Border Patrol Agent is charged with having committed these horrific crimes.