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2 Arrested After Car Chase Ends in Gunfire

chase
Police car following cars inside a city with a motion blur effect | Image by Giannis Papanikos, Shutterstock

Brothers from Socorro were arrested when a vehicle chase ended with law enforcement opening fire on an SUV carrying unlawful migrants.

The chase began when a state trooper attempted to pull over the SUV for speeding near Interstate 10 and Executive Center Boulevard in West El Paso at around 8 a.m. on Friday, March 31. 

The brothers were identified as Kevin and Daniel Gonzalez. At a bond hearing Sunday, Assistant District Attorney Ray Duke alleged that Kevin Gonzalez was driving a white Chevrolet SUV and Daniel Gonzalez was a passenger in the vehicle transporting seven unlawful migrants, per The El Paso Times.

The chase ended when the SUV turned into a dirt lot with no exit. The driver then reversed into a Department of Public Safety vehicle, causing significant damage to the vehicle and minor injuries to a trooper.

Kevin Gonzalez exited the vehicle and ran. He was later located in a nearby dollar store. Daniel Gonzalez attempted to flee with the vehicle before an officer shot its tires and detained him at the scene.

Daniel Gonzalez was arrested and jailed on charges of evading arrest with a vehicle and possession of a controlled substance. His bond was set at $85,000. Kevin Gonzalez faces charges of felony evading arrest with a vehicle, aggravated assault of a public servant, possession of a controlled substance, and two charges of drug possession, per The El Paso Times.

Kevin Gonzalez’s bond was $333,000, per the El Paso Times.

U.S. Border Patrol assumed custody of the seven migrants.

During a preliminary hearing, a magistrate judge refused to lower the bond amounts due to the potential danger to the public caused by the chase. The judge also said the brothers could face federal charges.

In addition to the current charges, Kevin Gonzalez had a March 17 tampering with evidence charge. At the time of Friday’s alleged crime, he was out on a $30,000 bond awaiting trial on a January 17 smuggling charge, per the El Paso Times.

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