Something needs to be done.
A Chick-fil-A restaurant in Texas has been temporarily shut down after a tragic incident where two employees were shot and killed inside the establishment by an immigrant from El Salvador, who was in the country unlawfully. Authorities believe the double homicide was not a random act of violence.
Around 4 p.m., Irving Police responded to calls about a shooting at the restaurant located on the 5300 block of North MacArthur Boulevard, according to Officer Anthony Alexander of the Irving Police Department, as reported by NBC DFW.
The shooting took place inside the restaurant, and both victims were declared dead at the scene. The suspect, identified as 37-year-old Oved Bernardo Mendoza Argueta, fled in a 1997 Honda four-door sedan. Mendoza Argueta, who is married to a restaurant employee and was identified by her as the shooter, was apprehended and charged with capital murder. Authorities believe his actions were targeted rather than random.
Mendoza Argueta has been placed on an immigration detainer by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), indicating that ICE intends to take him into custody. An ICE spokesperson confirmed to the New York Post that its Enforcement and Removal Operations in Dallas lodged the detainer with the Irving Police Department.
ICE emphasizes the importance of detainers for identifying and removing criminal aliens in federal, state, or local custody, relying on cooperation with local law enforcement.
The victims were identified as 49-year-old Patricia Portillo and 31-year-old Brayan Alexis Godoy, according to arrest affidavits and updates from CBS News Dallas and FOX 4.
The local Chick-fil-A owner-operator expressed deep sorrow over the incident, stating, “Our hearts are broken by the tragedy that unfolded inside our restaurant Wednesday. We will miss our two team members dearly. Right now, our focus is on providing care for our team and the victims’ families.”
Chick-fil-A’s website confirms that the Irving-Las Colinas location is temporarily closed, with no specified date for reopening.
This tragic event follows another recent incident in Houston, where 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray was strangled to death by two illegal immigrants from Venezuela. ICE reports that the suspects, Johan Jose Martinez-Rangel and Franklin Pena, had been previously detained and released by U.S. Border Patrol shortly before the murder.
Critics, including former President Donald Trump, have criticized President Joe Biden’s border policies in light of these incidents. Trump commented on Truth Social, blaming Biden’s policies for the increase in violent crimes involving migrants.