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Three individuals linked to the Tren de Aragua gang have been apprehended in connection with the kidnapping and murder of a man in Texas, whose remains were discovered in August.
The remains of 33-year-old Nilzult Petit were found in Irving, Texas, on August 24, showing signs of a gunshot wound to the head. During the investigation, officers also discovered two young children, believed to be related to Petit, wandering alone near the IH-35E highway service road.
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It is reported that the children were left abandoned following Petit’s alleged execution by individuals associated with the Tren de Aragua, a well-known transnational criminal organization, as noted in a report by FOX 4 Dallas.
According to law enforcement statements, four Venezuelan nationals are believed to have kidnapped Petit and his two young relatives, subsequently taking them to an apartment in Farmers Branch, Texas, where Petit was reportedly killed, and the children were abandoned on a nearby road.
Three suspects have been identified and arrested in connection to Nilzult Petit’s death and the abduction of the children: 38-year-old Ehiker Alexander Morales Mendoza, 25-year-old Carlos Luis Zambrano Bolivar, and 22-year-old Jhonata Nahin Toro Gonzalez. They are facing charges of capital murder as well as aggravated kidnapping.
A fourth individual, identified as 29-year-old Jhonny Jesus Martinez Serrano, is still being sought by authorities.
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Investigations reveal that Petit was allegedly collaborating with the suspects in an ATM theft operation. However, when he reportedly failed to fulfill his financial obligations to them, they retaliated by kidnapping him and the children.
Bolivar and Gonzalez were detained by ICE agents in Aurora, Colorado, while Mendoza was captured by Homeland Security agents in New Mexico. Aurora has experienced a rise in activity linked to the Tren de Aragua gang, particularly following the release of surveillance footage showing criminal behavior in an apartment associated with gang members.
Tren de Aragua operates from Venezuela and has been extending its reach into the United States, engaging in various illicit activities, including drug and human trafficking.
Officials from Farmers Branch Police Department assert that while the suspects and Petit are linked to Tren de Aragua, the specific incidents in this case may not be directly gang-related.
As Bolivar, Gonzalez, and Mendoza await extradition proceedings from Colorado and New Mexico, the search for Serrano continues.
Authorities are urging anyone with information regarding Serrano’s location to reach out to the Farmers Branch Police Department at (972) 919-1406, where tips can be provided anonymously.
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