BROOKS COUNTY – The Brooks County Sheriff’s Office is on high alert after getting word of a suspected hitman entered the county.

CHANNEL 5 NEWS reached out to Brooks County Sheriff Chief Deputy Benny Martinez about the threat to deputies’ lives. He said they are on standby.

He said the alert came Sunday night from law enforcement in the Rio Grande Valley. He said they have taken extra precautions for deputies and former law enforcement officers near the southern end of Brooks County.

Martinez said the alleged hitman may have come in from Mexico.

“I got a call last night at approximately 8:00 p.m. from RGV Sector, in regards to a suspected murder suspect that might be traveling into Brooks County, and the allegation was that he was filtering in to maybe make, possibly make, a hit on one of the deputies in or ex-law enforcement officers within…Brooks,” he said.

Martinez added the authorities did not locate the potential threat.

He went on to say authorities haven’t confirmed if the person is part or connected to the cartel. 

Listen: Interview with Brooks Co. Sheriff Chief Deputy Benny Martinez