Update: $10,000 Reward Offered for apprehension of Abel Acosta
Thursday, Dec. 30
A $10,000 reward has been offered for any information leading to the apprehension of 14-year-old Abel Elias Acosta, who is the shooter responsible for killing three and wounding a fourth at a convenience store Dec. 26.
In addition to the Garland Crimestoppers reward of $5,000, Jerry Reynolds, president of Car Pro Radio Network/Owner of KPIR, has offered an additional $5,000, making the total reward of $10,000.
Abel Acosta is described as a light-skinned Hispanic male with dark hair, brown eyes, approximately 5’ 05” in height, and weighing around 125 pounds.
Abel Acosta is considered armed and dangerous. Anyone who knows the whereabouts of Abel is encouraged to call 911 immediately.
Update: GPD obtains ‘Directive to Apprehend’ in triple murder at convenience store
Wednesday, Dec.29
Detectives have discovered evidence identifying Abel Elias Acosta as the shooter
responsible for killing three and wounding a fourth at a convenience store Dec. 26, 2021.
It is typically not the practice of the Garland Police Department to release juvenile information, but due to the nature of the offense and potential risk to the public, the court has authorized the release of his information.
Detectives obtained a Directive to Apprehend Abel Elias Acosta, age 14. Abel is facing the charge of Capital Murder for the shooting death of the three teenagers.
A Directive to Apprehend is defined by Texas Family Code, 52.015 as:
- a) On the request of a law enforcement or probation officer, a juvenile court may issue a directive to apprehend a child if the court finds there is probable cause to take the child into custody under the provisions of this title.
Abel Elias Acosta is described as a light-skinned Hispanic male with dark hair, brown eyes, approximately 5’ 05” in height and weighing around 125 pounds.
Information detectives discovered shows that the driver of the truck, Richard Acosta, who previously turned himself in, is the father of the shooter, Abel Acosta.
The original 14-year-old male that was taken into custody Dec. 27, and whose name is not being released, is not the shooter; however, he remains a person of interest in the investigation.
Detectives believe Abel Acosta is actively evading capture and need the public’s assistance in locating him.
Abel Acosta is considered armed and dangerous. Anyone who has knowledge of the whereabouts of Abel is encouraged to call 911 immediately.
Tips may be made anonymously to Garland Crime Stoppers at 972-272-8477 or www.garlandcrimestoppers.org. A reward of up to $5,000 is available for any information that leads to his apprehension.
Update: Driver arrested in triple murder
Tuesday, Dec. 28
The driver of the white Dodge Ram, who arrived at the scene with the shooter and was seen fleeing with the shooter inside the vehicle, was arrested yesterday after turning himself in at the Garland Police Department. The truck has also been located.
The driver is identified as 33-year-old Richard Acosta Jr., a resident of Garland. Richard Acosta is currently in the Garland Detention Center charged with Capital Murder – Multiple Persons. His bond is set at $1,000,000.
Detectives learned that the 14-year-old male who was taken into custody yesterday has intimate knowledge of the shooting, and he is cooperating with the investigation. Based on new information in the investigation, the 14-year-old is not being charged at this time and has been released to his family.
This shooting appears to be in retaliation from a previous disturbance and was believed to be a targeted attack on one or more of the persons inside the store.
Members of the Garland Police Department are actively pursuing leads and have executed several search warrants throughout the night. Detectives are searching for additional evidence that can positively identify the shooter. As this is an active investigation, certain details will not be released to preserve the integrity of the investigation.
The Garland Police Department is asking for the public’s help. Anyone with any information regarding the shooting is encouraged to call the Garland Police Department at 972-485-4840. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to Garland Crime Stoppers at 972-272-8477 (TIPS) or at www.garlandcrimestoppers.org.
Update: Three teens killed, one wounded at Garland convenience store
Monday, Dec. 27
Garland Police Chief Jeff Bryan held a news conference the afternoon of Monday, Dec. 27, to provide an update on the investigation into the shooting of four males at a convenience store. The incident happened on the evening of Sunday, Dec. 26. (See below.)
Bryan said that all four victims were Hispanic males and all are from the Garland community. Three were pronounced dead at the scene: 14-year-old Xavier Gonzalez, 16-year-old Ivan Noyala and 17-year-old Rafael Garcia. According to police, two of the deceased males entered the store together. The other deceased male was there to buy food for his family.
The other victim, who works at the store, is a 15-year-old whose name is being withheld due to his age. He was wounded and remains in the hospital in stable condition.
At the news conference, Bryan said that Garland police had arrested a suspect in the shooting. He is 14-years-old and his name is not being released because of his age. Charges have not been filed.
The chief addressed the difficulty associated with this case.
“I”ll tell you that this investigation is difficult for us. It’s difficult for me. It’s difficult for our officers. And it’s difficult for the community because we want to know why,” Bryan said.
Surveillance video shows that the alleged shooter exited a white four-door pickup truck and approached the store with a gun. He then opened the door and began shooting. Afterward, he got back into the passenger side of the same truck and it sped away.
Police are looking for the driver of the truck and they are calling him a person of interest.
The suspected shooter used a 40-caltiber pistol that had an extended magazine. The police chief said that they know that the suspect fired at least 20 rounds because they found the shell casings.
Bryan said that there are two main things that the GPD is trying to accomplish right now. First, they are going to complete an accurate and thorough investigation and arrest. The other is that they are going to support the families.
Sunday, Dec. 26 just after 7:30 p.m. – Three men are dead and one is in the hospital after a shooting at a convenience store in the 700 block of Walnut Street at Glenbrook Drive. The condition of the victim that was transported to the hospital is not known.
The victims’ names are not being released at this time.
The detectives retrieved the store’s surveillance video that showed a white Dodge four-door truck driving up to the store and a man exiting the truck with a gun. He then began firing the gun outside and continued to fire as he walked into the store. The male suspect then ran back to the truck and left the scene at a high rate of speed. He is currently at large.
A GPD press release said that the suspect is a male with light skin. He wore a baseball cap and a blue surgical mask. He did not have a shirt on and was wearing dark-colored athletic shorts.
Detectives are investigating. Updates will be provided by the GPD as more details are learned.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Garland Police Department at 972-485-4840. Callers may remain anonymous by calling Garland Crime Stoppers at 972-272-8477 (TIPS). A reward of up to $5,000 is being offered for information that leads to the identity and arrest of the suspect.