A poster shows the criminal record of George Alvarez, suspected of the premeditated killing of eight people in Brownsville, Texas. May 8, 2023. VALERIE GONZALEZ/AP
On Monday, May 8, 2023, a criminal case of “involuntary manslaughter” was launched against a driver who killed eight people the day before by mowing down a group of pedestrians with his car who were gathering in front of a reception center for migrants in gathered in an American town on the border with Mexico.
“The investigation is ongoing,” and the charges against George Alvarez could be changed later, Brownsville Police Chief Felix Sauceda said at a news conference.
Investigators in this South Texas city are awaiting the results of a toxicology analysis conducted on this 34-year-old man “with a serious criminal record” who has previously been arrested for assault, burglary or drunk driving.
Sunday, just after 8am (3pm in France), “he ran a red light, lost control of his vehicle, which overturned before it struck 18 people,” Mr Sauceda said. Six died instantly and two in hospital.
The victims are all male, including several Venezuelans. “We are working with the government of Venezuela and have also contacted other embassies,” specifically to identify them, the police chief said.
The hypothesis of an intentional act
After George Alvarez committed his slaughter, he tried to escape, but witnesses prevented him. When they arrived, the police arrested him and took him to a hospital to treat his injuries. He was taken into custody on Monday.
On Sunday, a witness told Agence France-Presse he uttered insults before speeding towards the small group of migrants.
“It all happened suddenly. A lady driving past asked us to step aside (…). The assassin arrived in the car, pointed and insulted us,” said Luis Herrera, a 36-year-old Venezuelan with an arm injury.
Crosses, flowers and candles honor the 8 people killed who were mowed down by a vehicle. May 7, 2023. MICHAEL GONZALEZ / AFP
When asked about this, the police chief said Monday he had no evidence to corroborate these allegations. However, the investigators are not yet ruling out the hypothesis of an intentional act.
Also read: USA: Joe Biden calls for a ban on assault rifles after another massacre in Texas
The arrival of migrants at the southern border of the United States regularly causes tension and sometimes violence. In 2018, a white supremacist killed 23 people with an assault rifle at a supermarket popular with the Hispanic community in the city of El Paso.
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But American authorities are preparing to lift on Thursday a health measure called “Title 42,” which was passed during the Covid pandemic and has allowed millions of migrants to be expelled without delay for the past three years. Its process has raised concerns about a resurgence in illegal entry into the United States, and the Republican opposition has relentlessly denounced a “crisis” at the border.
“horror scene”
The victims were among a group of about 25 people waiting at a bus stop in front of a homeless shelter that is currently housing many migrants, its director Victor Maldonado told AFP.
According to him, they were Venezuelans who had just had breakfast in the center.
Also read: Seven people die after being mowed down by a vehicle in front of a reception center for migrants in Texas
“Suddenly this SUV came at very high speed, hit the curb and split the group,” he said. He described to Agence France-Presse a horror scene with body parts scattered in the street and witnesses “completely in shock”. The driver “tried to flee, but residents (of the center) caught up with him and immobilized him,” he added.
The center is open 24 hours a day and currently houses migrants from Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, China and Ukraine, as well as many Venezuelans, Maldonado said.