Details are few at this point, but local leaders said at least two people are dead in the late-night incident.
SAN ANTONIO — Two people are dead and several others injured in a shooting that broke out in the parking lot of the popular Kickapoo Casino in Eagle Pass, Texas, according to the Maverick County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff Schmerber said the suspected shooter has been arrested but provided no further details.
According to a press release from Eagle Pass police, the suspect was located in Wilson County – east of San Antonio – and was taken into custody with the use of a taser. A weapon was also recovered. Arrangements are currently being made to extradite him back to Maverick County.
It’s unknown at this point what lead up to the shooting. But images that started flooding social media around midnight show what appeared to be a heavy law enforcement presence at the casino.
The Eagle Pass Police Department said around 12:45 a.m. that it was “assisting Tribal Police with an incident” at the casino and asked the public to avoid the area, calling it an active investigation.
Maverick County Judge Ramsey English Cantu initially shared the news on his Facebook page shortly after 1 a.m. Sunday, writing that “it pains me deeply to see these horrific acts of violence occurring in our home. He posted again a few hours later stating that two people were killed in the “heinous act.”
The Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas provided a statement Sunday morning regarding the shooting.
“We are heartbroken about the violence that occurred at the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino. Two individuals were killed, and we are aware of five more individuals who have been transferred to medical facilities in Eagle Pass and San Antonio. There is an ongoing investigation by the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas Police Department, Texas Rangers and FBI. A warrant was issued for a person of interest, who was apprehended by the Texas Department of Public Safety in Wilson County. We will provide more information as it becomes available. We are grateful to the Maverick County Sheriff’s Office, Eagle Pass Police Department, U.S. Border Patrol and Texas Department of Public Safety all of whom responded to this terrible incident.”
Eagle Pass Mayor Aaron Valdez wrote on Facebook he was “deeply saddened by the tragic events” at the casino. He didn’t elaborate on the nature of the emergency.
“I want to assure the people of Eagle Pass that our city is in close coordination with Tribal Police, EPPD and other law enforcement agencies to support their investigation, maintain security, and ensure that those responsible for this violence act are found and brought to justice,” Valdez wrote.
Eagle Pass is about 145 miles southwest of downtown San Antonio.
This is a developing story.