Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico — A custody dispute involving a 3-year-old boy allegedly ended in a deadly shooting spree after a Texas reserve police officer traveled to Mexico, authorities say. Chad Eberle, 35, is accused of killing three people, critically wounding the child’s mother and then fleeing with his son toward the U.S. border.
Mexican authorities arrested Eberle near the border after what officials described as a frantic effort to locate him and the child.
Custody Dispute Allegedly Turned Violent
According to Mexican authorities and reports cited by local media, Eberle was in Saltillo seeking custody of his young son. Authorities allege that after the custody effort was unsuccessful, Eberle opened fire on four people.
Three people were killed in the shooting, while the boy’s mother was critically wounded.
The victims were identified as Ana Laura de León Morín, 44; Laura Jaquelín Morín de León, 22; and Emanuel Montero Gómez, 44. The child’s mother remained hospitalized following the attack.
Mexican prosecutors have accused Eberle of femicide and qualified homicide, charges that carry specific meanings under Mexican law. The United Nations defines femicide as a gender-related killing of women or girls.
Authorities Say Eberle Fled With His Son
After the shooting, authorities say Eberle took his 3-year-old son and traveled hundreds of miles north, heading toward Piedras Negras, a Mexican border city directly across from Eagle Pass, Texas.
Investigators obtained an arrest warrant as authorities searched for Eberle and the child.
The search ended when Eberle was reportedly arrested at International Bridge II in Piedras Negras as he attempted to cross into the United States. Mexican authorities subsequently placed him in the Saltillo Men’s Penitentiary.
The child was found unharmed and placed under the care of Mexico’s child protection authorities.
Texas Law Enforcement Career Under Scrutiny
The allegations have also raised questions about Eberle’s law enforcement background.
Eberle was serving as a reserve officer with the Santa Anna Police Department in Texas at the time of the incident. The department has placed him on unpaid administrative leave while the allegations are investigated.
He had also previously worked as a Bexar County Precinct 2 deputy constable and had connections to other Texas law enforcement agencies, including the Lockney Police Department.
Reports also identify Eberle as a U.S. Army veteran who had worked in law enforcement in several Texas communities.
Child Remains in Protective Care
The 3-year-old is now under the supervision of Mexico’s child welfare authorities following the alleged violence. Authorities have not indicated how long Eberle had been in Mexico before the shooting or provided a full explanation of the custody dispute that preceded the killings.
U.S. and Texas authorities are coordinating with Mexican officials as the investigation continues.
Eberle remains in Mexican custody while facing the homicide-related allegations. The case is ongoing, and the accusations against him have not been proven in court.
What do you think about this tragic case? Should law enforcement officers involved in custody disputes face additional scrutiny when serious allegations arise? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
