Authorities in Texas have confirmed that the suspect wanted in connection with a fatal shooting at a Chick-fil-A restaurant in Irving is now in custody. The incident, which resulted in the deaths of two individuals, occurred at the fast-food establishment located on North MacArthur Boulevard.
The suspect, identified as Oved Bernardo Mendoza Argueta, 37, was apprehended early Thursday morning. It was revealed that Mendoza Argueta is currently under an 'ICE hold,' with the Immigration and Naturalization Service Dallas/Fort Worth being the warrant agency involved.
According to an arrest warrant, the shooting took place around 3:40 p.m. One of the victims was identified as Patricia Portillo, while the identity of the second victim was withheld pending notification of their next of kin. Mendoza Argueta, who is reportedly the spouse of a Chick-fil-A employee, was positively identified by a witness.
Law enforcement officials stated that the shooting appeared to be a targeted attack and not a random act of violence. During the search for the suspect, authorities released a photo of Mendoza Argueta and the vehicle he was last seen driving, a 1997 Honda 4-door car.
Following the incident, security measures were visibly heightened at the Chick-fil-A location, with screens placed in front of windows and a heavy police presence in the parking lot.
Requests for comments from Chick-fil-A, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement have not been immediately responded to.