Dispute Leads to Shooting Incident in El Paso Leaving One Dead, Suspect Arrested

UPDATE: On October 19, 2023 Crimes Against Persons detectives charged Velazquez with two additional counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for victims Carter and Sanchez. He was given a bond of $100,000.00 for each charge.

On October 20, 2023, Investigators received information Mr. Carter died at the hospital. Investigators are working with the District Attorney’s office on enhancing Velazquez’s charge to Capital Murder.

ORIGINAL STORY

On the evening of October 13, 2023, local law enforcement responded to a shooting incident in the 7600 block of Parral. When officers arrived at the scene, they discovered two individuals with gunshot wounds. The suspected shooter was apprehended on-site, and the Crimes Against Persons unit was called to initiate the investigation.

The initial findings of the investigation revealed a history of neighbor disputes between two of the individuals involved. 62-year-old James Burton and 54-year-old Joseph Carter had been embroiled in ongoing conflicts with 68-year-old Mario Velazquez Lechuga, who resided in the same neighborhood. On that fateful day, Velazquez allegedly exited his residence, approached Burton and Carter, and opened fire. He also fired shots in the direction of 65-year-old Ernesto Sanchez, though Sanchez was unharmed.

Burton and Carter were transported to a local hospital for medical treatment. James Burton succumbed to his injuries while at the hospital. Joseph Carter remains admitted for his injuries and is receiving medical care.

In connection with this incident, Mario Velazquez Lechuga has been arrested and booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility, facing charges of murder. His bond has been set at $500,000.00, and the case will be presided over by Judge R. Nunez.

The investigation into this incident is ongoing.