Records: Honduran man called 911 while killing fourth victim in San Benito homicide
A Honduran national shot and killed four members of the family he had been living with in San Benito after a night of drinking, according to an affidavit obtained by Channel 5 News.
Christian Joel Maldonado Pacheco confessed to authorities that he committed the killings, and even called 911 at around 3:18 a.m. on the day of the killings to report it.
Dispatchers said they heard crying children and gunshots during the 911 call, the affidavit said. Dispatchers also told deputies that Pacheco said he had used a Glock handgun and was about to shoot another person identified as “Ma.”
As previously reported, Pacheco was arrested on Sunday, Sept. 13, after deputies with the Cameron County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 3200 block of Road 819 and found three of the four bodies.
The affidavit identifies the victims as Donaciano Guzman Vargas, Gustavo Guzman Grajales, Maria Ester Armayrany Moreno Sanchez and Leticia Vargas Fernandez.
According to Fernandez’s daughter, Alba Cortez, Pacheco had been living with the family for four years. He had been living in the country illegally, and he had previously said Fernandez was like a mother to him.
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The Cameron County Sheriff's Office said Pacheco confessed to the killings and said he was “tired of being bullied.” Investigators are still looking into that claim.
The affidavit reveals that the killings happened after Grajales’ birthday celebration. Pacheco left with Vargas to go drinking at two different bars, and took his pistol with him.
On the way home, Vargas was behind the wheel and “appeared to become lost while driving and began to become angry,” the complaint said.
“Christian stated that Donaciano began talking down to him, causing Christian to become upset,” the complaint said, adding that Pacheco was holding the pistol. “Donaciano was telling him that he was not worth anything, using the words, ‘no vales v*rga.’”
Pacheco then shot Vargas and placed his body in the middle of the roadway before driving home.
Vargas’ body was found on Russell Lane near San Benito.
Once at the residence, Pacheco said he loaded the magazine and went to Grajales' bedroom and fired at him after telling him “no valen v*rga.” Grajales was in bed with his wife, identified as Moreno Sanchez, who was shot by Pacheco after hearing her scream.
After the shooting, Pacheco said he picked up the couple’s 2-month-old baby sleeping near the couple. The affidavit says spent casings were found on the baby's bassinet.
He said he picked up the baby and carried her to another bedroom where two other children, an 8-year-old and a 4-year-old, were sleeping. He told the children everything was OK and walked them outside as he dialed 911.
As he was leaving, Fernandez came out of her bedroom and confronted him, the affidavit says. Pacheco said he shot and killed her while carrying the baby and the two other children walked in front of him.
Pacheco stayed at the front of the residence with the children until law enforcement arrived and detained him, the affidavit said.
Pacheco remains in custody without bond.
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