Man Arrested After Gun Threat at El Paso Intersection Caught on Video

EL PASO, Texas — A man accused of pointing a firearm at occupants of a vehicle at a traffic light has been arrested following an investigation that began with a video circulated on social media, authorities said.

The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office said it became aware of the incident on April 7, 2026, after footage surfaced online showing a male approaching a vehicle near the intersection of Pellicano Drive and Sunfire Boulevard and brandishing a firearm.

Deputies later contacted the victims, who reported the incident occurred on April 5 while they were stopped at a traffic light. According to investigators, the suspect approached their vehicle in an aggressive manner, yelled at them, and pointed a gun at both occupants, causing them to fear for their lives.

Through the investigation, deputies identified the suspect as 25-year-old Julian Ceasar Valdez of Las Cruces, New Mexico. Authorities obtained two warrants charging him with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Working with the Las Cruces Police Department, deputies located Valdez at a residence in the 300 block of Jasper Drive in Las Cruces. He was taken into custody without incident on April 8 at approximately 10 a.m. and booked into the Doña Ana County Detention Center.

Officials said Valdez is awaiting extradition to El Paso County, where he will face two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

“This case highlights the power of social media when it works alongside law enforcement to keep our community safe,” Sheriff Oscar Ugarte said. “We thank our deputies and the Las Cruces Police Department for their collaboration and swift work in identifying and apprehending this individual.”