Garland police say they've identified the shooter in this weekend's gas station killings, but they haven't found him yet.
Abel Elias Acosta, a 14-year-old, faces a charge of capital murder. Police believe he was the shooter who killed three teenagers and injured another in a Texaco gas station store on Sunday.
In a press release, Garland police said they do not usually identify minors suspected of crimes, but in this case, "due to the nature of the offense and potential risk to the public, the court has authorized the release of his information." Acosta is considered armed and dangerous.
The shooting happened Sunday night in Garland and was captured on surveillance video, the Garland Police Department said. According to police, a suspect exited a white pickup truck, went inside the store and opened fire. The surveillance video shows him sneaking up to the convenience store door, opening it, then repeatedly firing what police say is a 40 caliber pistol. They recovered 20 rounds.
Police have also arrested Acosta's father on a capital murder charge. Richard Acosta Jr., 33, turned himself in on Monday, police say. They believe he drove the truck.
Police originally arrested another 14-year-old who has not been identified, but they determined he was not the shooter. He remains a person of interest in the investigation, police say.
The dead have been identified as 14-year-old Xavier Gonzalez, 16-year-old Ivan Noyala and 17-year-old Rafael Garcia. The injured teen that remains in the hospital has not yet been named.
Gonzalez's family, friends and classmates gathered for a vigil on Tuesday to honor his life.
KERA News is made possible through the generosity of our members. If you find this reporting valuable, consider making a tax-deductible gift today. Thank you.
Got a tip? Email Miranda Suarez at msuarez@kera.org. You can follow Miranda on Twitter @MirandaRSuarez.
