By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
A $50,000 bond has been set for a Val Verde County man charged with attempted murder following a shooting incident just south of the city earlier this month.
Gerardo Raul Garza Jr., 28, 277 Don Pedro Drive, was arrested by Val Verde County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Whitney Merket, an investigator with the VVSO’s criminal investigations division, following the shooting, which occurred just before 3 a.m. Dec. 1.
His bond was set by Justice of the Peace Pct. 4 Hilda Lopez.
Garza has been charged with the offense of attempted murder, a second-degree felony.
In an affidavit filed in the case, Merket wrote she was advised about 3 a.m. on Dec. 1 of a shooting at the intersection of Paulito Drive and Brewer Drive, south of the Del Rio city limits.
“(I) was advised the victim was not injured and was en route to VVSO to provide a statement,” Merket wrote, noting the victim’s vehicle, a black 2017 Fiat 500, was being towed to the sheriff’s office as evidence.
Merket said she interviewed the victim, whose name was redacted in the affidavit, who told her he was selling Garza some vehicle rims. The victim identified Garza as “the ex-brother-in-law of his wife.” The victim said Garza followed him to a residence near the Val Verde Winery to pick up the rims.
“Garza requested (the victim) to follow him to pick up the money to pay for the rims. While following him, Garza (stopped) at the intersection of Brewer Drive and Paulito Drive, facing northbound,” Merket wrote.
She said the victim told her when Garza stopped his vehicle, the victim could not pass him, as Garza’s vehicle was blocking the roadway.
“Garza exited the vehicle and looked to his left, westbound, down Paulito Drive. (The victim) looked that way and advised he saw green lights, ‘like lasers,’ pointed at him and possibly two other subjects involved,” Merket wrote.
She said the victim told her one of the green lights was coming from directly in front of him, where Garza was stopped, and the other two were coming from the left front of his vehicle.
The victim told her he began to drive backwards “to get away from the individuals and Garza who were shooting at him,” Merket wrote.
Merket wrote she and fellow investigators returned to the scene of the shooting and recovered shell casings from the 300 block of Paulito Drive, northeast of the area where the victim’s vehicle had stopped.
Merket also reported on the condition of the victim’s Fiat when it was towed to the sheriff’s office.
“There were numerous bullet holes in the left front quarter panel and window located next to the driver side mirror. Two shots went through the lower left windshield and entered the dashboard. All shots were aimed at the driver side where (the victim) was sitting,” Merket wrote.
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