BROWNSVILLE – The family of a slain Border Patrol agent broke their silence after the shooting suspect’s official sentencing.

Shackled from his feet and wrists, Gustavo Tijerina-Sandoval, thanked the family Tuesday afternoon.

“It’s always been my dream to come out on TV,” he said before being escorted out of the courtroom.

The mother agent of Javier Vega Jr., Marie Vega, tells CHANNEL 5 NEWS her family is still a long ways from closure.

KRGV’s Daisy Martinez has more on the Vega family’s comments.

Watch the video above for the full story.