A man was allegedly shot and killed in the southeastern Dallas neighborhood of Rylie on Saturday by an unlawful migrant.
Dallas police responded to a shooting call at around 11:35 p.m. on August 5 in the 2000 block of Vine Lane, according to a blog post by the Dallas Police Department (DPD).
Police found 36-year-old Hector Barrios Verdugo had been shot during what an investigation determined was a “disturbance.” Verdugo was taken to a nearby hospital, where he died from his injuries.
Police later updated the press release to indicate that an arrest had been made.
A U.S. Marshals task force arrested David Santos Flores, 37, the day after the shooting. He was taken to the Dallas County Jail, according to police.
Flores was charged with murder. Additionally, authorities determined that he was in the country unlawfully, designating him an “illegal alien,” according to jail records. His bond was set at $500,000.
The murder happened in District 8, which is represented by Council Member Tennell Atkins. There have been 153 murders in Dallas as of August 5, according to a DPD report, up by 6.25% year over year.
While an arrest has been made, authorities said the incident still remains under investigation, urging anyone with information about the shooting to contact DPD Det. Phillip Wheeler at 214-671-3686 or via email at [email protected].
DPD is understaffed, maintaining a force of around 3,100 officers. A City analysis, however, advises that the City should have a police force of about 4,000 officers.
“It’s a national staffing crisis in law enforcement. There is no question about it,” said Police Chief Eddie Garcia back in April, according to WFAA. “We have to do something different. Every police chief in this country needs to think differently as we struggle with our staffing issues.”
The shortage has been felt in Downtown Dallas, where the neighborhood sees far more crime than downtown Fort Worth. Neighboring Fort Worth also reportedly maintains a dedicated police unit that focuses exclusively on its downtown area. It works alongside private security.
