Authorities have apprehended three individuals connected to the Tren de Aragua gang in relation to the kidnapping and murder of a Texas man, whose body was discovered in Irving, Texas in August.
The victim, identified as Nilzult Petit, 33, was found with a single gunshot wound to the head on August 24. Alongside Petit's body, officers located two young children believed to be related to him, who were found wandering near the IH-35E highway service road.
Investigations revealed that Petit and the children were allegedly abducted by four Venezuelan nationals associated with the Tren de Aragua gang. The suspects took them to an apartment in Farmers Branch, Texas, where Petit was reportedly executed, and the children were abandoned on a nearby service road.
The Farmers Branch police have arrested three suspects in connection with the case: Ehiker Alexander Morales Mendoza, Carlos Luis Zambrano Bolivar, and Jhonata Nahin Toro Gonzalez. These individuals are facing charges of capital murder and two counts of aggravated kidnapping. A fourth suspect, Jhonny Jesus Martinez Serrano, is still at large.
It was discovered that Petit had been involved in an ATM theft scheme with the suspects. When he failed to meet his obligations, the suspects retaliated by kidnapping him and the children.
Two of the suspects, Bolivar and Gonzalez, were apprehended by ICE agents in Aurora, Colorado, while Mendoza was taken into custody in New Mexico by Homeland Security agents. Aurora, Colorado has been identified as a location linked to Tren de Aragua gang activities.
Tren de Aragua, originally based in Venezuela, has expanded its criminal operations to the United States, engaging in drug and human trafficking activities. Although the crimes in this case were not explicitly gang-related, officials have confirmed that the suspects and the victim were affiliated with Tren de Aragua.
Bolivar, Gonzalez, and Mendoza are currently awaiting extradition from Colorado and New Mexico to face charges in Texas.
