A 51-year-old Latino man accused of shooting a police officer at a traffic stop in Houston, Texas, will await trial in detention without bail, given his record: he had been wanted for years for violating his probation in the United States. United in a conviction for robbery and is accused of another murder in El Salvador.
The man was identified as Oscar Rosales, although the investigators point out that he
has used different identities
.
He is charged with capital murder for shooting police officer Carlos Galloway, 47, when he stopped his Toyota Avalon for a traffic stop at 12:45 am Sunday.
Rosales' wife and brother were also charged by investigators for allegedly trying to cover up the crime.
This undated photo provided by the Harris County, Texas, Sheriff's Precinct 5th Office shows Officer Charles Galloway, who was fatally shot during a traffic stop in Houston, Texas, early Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022. .Harris County Constable Precinct/AP
Rosales
was arrested by Mexican authorities on Wednesday in Ciudad Acuña
, where he would have fled after the crime.
From there they sent him that same day to the Texas city of Del Rio, back to the United States.
An investigating judge ruled that he will be detained pending trial without bail.
Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said at a news conference Thursday that Rosales has used many different identities and that U.S. authorities had been
looking for him under a different name since 1996
after failing to comply with the conditions of his release. probation on a conviction for aggravated assault with a knife.
Rosales had also been wanted for murder in El Salvador, he said.
Investigators are trying to determine Rosales' immigration status and whether he was a citizen of El Salvador, Guatemala or Honduras, Ogg said.
A possible death sentence
The killing of Galloway, who
had been in service for 12 years and was a field training officer
, shocked the local community and his fellow police officers.
"Numerous officers here in the precinct were trained by him, he was his mentor, and he will be missed," Houston Police Chief Troy Finner said after the crime.
The prosecutor indicated that the death penalty is expected to be sought in the case.
The crime also occurred after a series of violent episodes involving Texas agents, and after two Latino police officers were shot to death when they went to a home in New York for a domestic incident.
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Just a day after Galloway's death on Monday, a Texas police officer died after being hit by a getaway car.
Then on Thursday, three police officers were shot in a pursuit.
The main suspect is also a Latino man and is in custody.
"It's hard to accept"
Authorities allege that after being stopped for a traffic stop in Galloway early Sunday morning, Rosales
got out of his vehicle, shot the officer several times
with some type of assault rifle, then got back into his car and fled.
The shooting was captured on Galloway's body camera and dashcam video, according to court records.
Houston's police chief said Thursday that authorities were still trying to determine a motive for the shooting.
“Nobody can talk about pure evil, evil, it is difficult.
I don't even care to ask him that right now.
He did it and you know what, he's going to be held accountable...
How can a human being do that to another human being, especially someone who is serving?
It's hard to accept.
But now, there is going to be justice,” Finner said.
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Rosales spoke briefly during his court appearance Wednesday night, accusing officers of making an attempt on his life.
“Right here all the officers and the security guy, it's fine.
They want to try (kill me) right here.
They can do it, whatever, I don't care.
Everyone here in this room is waiting for their chance to hurt me
,” he pointed out.
The wife and brother, also accused
Authorities said Rosales' common-law wife, Reina Marquez, 40, and her brother, Henri Marquez, 42, have been charged with tampering with evidence in connection with the case.
Investigators suspect they
cleaned Rosales' car
in an attempt to cover up his involvement in Galloway's shooting death, according to court records.
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Eddie Cortés, Reina Márquez's public defender, refused to comment on the matter when asked by The Associated Press.
Court records do not list an attorney for Henri Marquez.