Texas car attack — latest: George Alvarez had multiple drugs in his system at time of Brownsville crash
Police say they are still investigating whether crash at Brownsville migrant center was intentional
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The driver accused of killing eight people in a crash outside a Texas migrant shelter was found to have multiple drugs in his system, police say.
Suspect George Alvarez, 34, has been charged with eight counts of manslaughter and 10 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after Sunday morning’s incident.
An initial toxicology report found he had multiple drugs in his system following the crash: cocaine, benzodiazepines and marijuana.
The development comes after a witness to the crash claimed the driver made anti-immigrant remarks before he was detained by members of the public.
Police say they are still investigating whether the crash was intentional as well as the driver’s alleged remarks.
Earlier police revealed that Mr Alvarez has a lengthy criminal history, including multiple assault charges.
And shocking security camera footage shared by Texas congressman Henry Cuellar showed the moment a grey Ranger Rover smashed into the crowd outside of the city’s Bishop Enrique San Pedro Ozanam Center.
The Venezuelan government has called for an investigation to determine if the crash was deliberate and motivated by hate or xenophobia, after it emerged that several of the victims were from Venezuela.
George Alvarez: Everything we know about driver in Brownsville crash that killed 8 migrants
Everything we know about the Brownsville, Texas crash that killed 8 people outside a migrant centre- George Alvarez identified as driver in Texas migrant shelter crash as death toll rises to eight
Two days, three attacks, 18 dead: Texas reels from horrifying weekend of violence
Man arrested for allegedly pointing gun at migrant centre near Brownsville crash site
A man was reportedly arrested after he was spotted pointing a gun at the Ozanam Centre in Brownsville, Texas. Eight people — many migrants — were killed just outside the centre’s gates over the weekend after George Alvarez, 34, allegedly hit them with his car.
On Monday, a driver reportedly approached the migrant centre’s gate with a gun and attempted to enter, prompting a lockdown. News Nation’s Ali Bradley was at the centre when it happened and spoke with witnesses who said they saw a man in a blue car with a gun try to ram the gates to the centre with his vehicle.
Police later arrested a man matching the description of the suspect. He was charged with marijuana possession. It is unclear if police found a weapon.
A Venezuelan migrant who survived the crash is worried for the future of his family
Telemundo’s Noticias gained access to one of the victims struck and injured during the Brownsville crash that left eight people dead and 10 seriously hurt.
Gabriel Gallardo spoke with Noticias from his hospital bed where he is recovering from the crash. His leg was severed after George Alvarez, the driver, allegedly ran into him and more than a dozen other men waiting for a bus in Brownsville.
Mr Gallardo said he set out for the US to try to build a future for his children, but now fears his “dreams are broken.”
‘’I came to look for a better future for my children and now it turns out that I have no legs. My dreams have all been broken,’’ he says in the interview.
Mourners and activists gather at the site of Brownsville crash
A group of mourners and activists have gathered to demonstrate at the site of the Brownsville crash that left eight men dead and 10 others with serious injuries.
The men — including several migrants from Venezuela — were hit when George Alvarez, 34, allegedly ran a red light and drove through the group, who were waiting for a bus.
Venezuelan migrant who survived Brownsville crash describes split second decision that saved his life
Yohonny Miratriz, 38, was one of the men sitting and waiting for a bus when George Alvarez, 38, allegedly ran a red light and drove through the crowd, killing eight and seriously injuring 10 others.
Mr Miratriz spoke to the New York Times about the split second decision he made that likely saved his life.
“I had time to think, do I jump forward or backward?” Mr Miratriz said. “Which way would give me a better chance at survival?”
He dove forward, but felt the nose of the SUV clip his leg.
“At first it didn’t hurt. I was in shock, but then the pain came rushing.”
A close friend of his, Luis Matute, was killed in the crash. Another friend, Johan Quiroz, was rushed to the hospital for treatment, where he is still recovering.
What is Title 42 and why is it ending this week?
Border cities in Texas are bracing for an influx of migrants, as the Trump-era Covid policy Title 42 comes to an end this week.
The rule, which was rolled out in an apparent bid to prevent people from entering the country and spreading coronavirus, saw officials turn away more than 3 million people from the country’s southern border over the past three years.
Now, cities like El Paso have declared an emergency ahead of the Thursday expiration of the policy, while Texas’ Republican governor Greg Abbott said he was deploying soldiers to the border.
“With the ending of Title 42 on Thursday, President Biden is laying down the welcome mat to people across the entire world,” he told USA Today
READ MORE:
What is Title 42 and why is it ending this week?
The Trump-era Covid policy is set to end on Thursday
The wife of a man who lost his leg in Brownsville crash pleads with Joe Biden to let her reunite with her husband
The wife of one of the men injured in the Brownsville crash, Venezuelan migrant Gabriel Gallardo, has asked Joe Biden to allow her and her children to reunite north of the border.
Speaking from Columbia, Yuleissi Andreina, Gallardo’s wife, lamented her husband’s injury to Noticias Telemundo.
“My sons and I need to be with my husband — as well as his mother. We left Venezuela with a future and a dream for his children. That dream has been turned upside down. Please President Biden, we ask for your help please,” she said.
Mr Gallardo lost his leg when George Alvarez, 34, allegedly ran a red light and drove over several men, killing eight and seriously injuring 10 others.
ICYMI: Some victims killed in car crash ‘arrived night before’
Cesar Romero, 34, a Venezuelan national who witnessed his friends being run over by the vehicle told CNN “some of the men killed had just arrived the night before”.
Mr Romero corroborated accounts by other witnesses that the driver, who police have identified as George Alvarez, tried to run away and yelled obscenities before being held by other bystanders until police arrived.
George Alvarez had drugs in his system, police say
Police on Tuesday revealed that George Alvarez had an alarming cocktail of drugs in his system when he crashed into a crowd in front of a migrant shelter in Brownsville.
An initial toxicology report showed cocaine, benzodiazepines and marijuana in his bloodstream.
The levels of each drug will be determined via a second blood sample.
The final toxicology report will be provided to the Cameron County district attorney, who will determine whether Alvarez is hit with additional charges.
He is currently facing eight counts of manslaughter and 10 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
George Alvarez’s long rap sheet revealed
At a press conference announcing the arrest of George Alvarez on Tuesday, police revealed the 34-year-old was well known to law enforcement with a lengthy rap sheet.
His previous arrests include:
- 2 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon
- 1 count of assault against elderly or disabled
- 4 counts of assault causing bodily injury to a family member
- 1 count of assault of a public servant
- 2 counts of burglary of a vehicle
- 1 count of assault causing bodily injury
- 2 counts of criminal mischief
- 1 count of driving while intoxicated
- 1 count of evading arrest/detention
- 1 count of interference with public duties
- 1 count of obstruction or retaliation
- 1 count of possession of marijuana
- 3 counts of resisting arrest, search or transport
- 1 count of theft of property