Texas first responders warned to watch for Tren de Aragua gang violence

Oct 9

Karah Rucker Anchor/Reporter

By Karah Rucker (Anchor/Reporter), Ian Kennedy (Lead Video Editor)

A series of high-profile arrests of Tren de Aragua gang members has occurred in major cities across Texas. The arrests are raising concerns about public safety and the safety of first responders.

In San Antonio, a massive raid over the weekend of Oct. 5, targeted 300 apartment units following reports of drug activity, human trafficking, and threats to apartment employees. Nineteen people were arrested, including four confirmed gang members.

Download the SAN app today to stay up-to-date with Unbiased. Straight Facts™.

Point phone camera here

The threat of gang violence prompted the San Antonio Firefighters Union to issue a warning to its members at two fire stations near a known gang activity hotspot, just a few blocks from a migrant resource center.

The union advised firefighters to “keep your head on a swivel” and “watch your six.” Members of the firefighters union respond to emergency calls unarmed and without police escort, according to the union.

San Antonio’s police chief vowed to crack down on gang activity.

Meanwhile, in Dallas, authorities confirmed that a suspect in a violent gang robbery is a Tren de Aragua member.

In late September, Wilmer Gonzalez allegedly orchestrated an attack on a woman, following her into her garage, pistol-whipping her, threatening to sever her fingers, and stealing her valuables. He crossed the southern border in April 2023 and was released with a court date, according to homeland security sources who spoke with The New York Post.

In Houston, a wanted Tren de Aragua gang member was arrested on Monday, Oct. 7, the same day he was expected to appear in court for his asylum hearing. The member was wanted for theft and identified by a tipster through tattoos linked to the gang.

As part of the state’s ongoing efforts to combat gang violence, the Texas Department of Public Safety is offering rewards of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest of known or suspected members of Tren de Aragua.

Last month, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott declared the gang a terrorist organization.

Tags: Dallas, Gang Violence, Houston, Police, Police officers, Police raid, San Antonio, Texas, Venezuela

THERE’S BEEN a series of high-profile arrests OF Tren de Aragua gang MEMBERS IN MAJOR CITIES ACROSS TEXAS.

From San Antonio to Houston and Dallas –

From violent robberies to human trafficking –

the gang’s presence raisING concerns for public safety and the safety of first responders –

A KNOWN TARGET OF THE GANG.

IN SAN ANTONIO –

A MASSIVE RAID OVER THE WEEKEND OF 300 APARTMENT UNITS –

AFTER REPORTS OF DRUGS, HUMAN TRAFFICKING, AND THREATS TO APARTMENT EMPLOYEES.

19 PEOPLE WERE ARRESTED –

INCLUDING FOUR TREN DE ARAGUA GANG MEMBERS.

THE THREAT OF GANG VIOLENCE LED THE SAN ANTONIO FIREFIGHTERS UNION TO ISSUE A WARNING TO ITS MEMBERS AT TWO FIRE STATIONS THEY SAY ARE NEAR A GANG ACTIVITY HOTSPOT – A FEW BLOCKS AWAY FORM A MIGRANT RESOURCE CENTER.

THE UNION TELLING FIREFIGHTERS TO “KEEP YOUR HEAD ON A SWIVEL” AND “WATCH YOUR SIX.”

THE FIREFIGHTERS UNION ALSO SAYING THEIR MEMBERS ANSWER TO EMERGENCY CALLS **WITHOUT BEING ARMED AND WITHOUT POLICE ESCORT.

SAN ANTONIO’S POLICE CHIEF HAS VOWED TO CRACKDOWN ON THE GANG ACTIVITY.

MEANWHILE IN DALLAS –

AUTHORITIES HAVE CONFIRMED THEIR SUSPECT IN A VIOLENT GANG ROBBERY **IS A TREN DE ARAGUA MEMBER.

IN LATE SEPTEMBER Wilmer Gonzalez allegedly orchestrated AN attack on a woman – FOLLOWING HER inTO THE garage–

pistol-whipping her, THREATENING TO SEVER HER FINGERS AND STEALING HER VALUABLES.

HE CROSSED THE SOUTHERN BORDER IN APRIL 2023 AND WAS RELEASED WITH A COURT DATE – ACCORDING TO HOMELAND SECURITY SOURCES CITED BY THE NEW YORK POST.

IN HOUSTON – A WANTED TREN DE ARAGUA GANG MEMBER WAS ARRESTED –

THE SAME DAY HE WAS EXPECTED TO APPEAR IN COURT FOR HIS ASYLUM HEARING.

THE MEMBER WAS WANTED FOR THEFT – AND IDENTIFIED BY A TIPSTER THROUGH TATTOOS LINKED TO THE GANG.

As part of the state’s ongoing effort to tackle gang violence, the DPS is offering rewards of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest of known or suspected members of Tren de Aragua.

LAST MONTH GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT DECLARED THE GANG A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION.

THANKS FOR WATCHING OUR NEWS UPDATE.

FOR MORE STORIES THAT MATTER TO YOU –

DOWNLOAD THE SAN MOBILE APP TODAY.