3 suspects arrested in Farmers Branch for murder, kidnapping linked to Venezuelan gang; 4th suspect wanted
NORTH TEXAS – The Farmers Branch police department arrested three people for murder and kidnapping – a crime that spanned across multiple cities. The three capital murder suspects linked to the Venezuelan street gang Tren de Aragua are in custody, awaiting extradition, according to Farmers Branch police.
Ehiker Alexander Morales Mendoza, 38; Carlos Luis Zambrano Bolivar, 25; and Jhonata Nahin Toro Gonzalez, 22, have been charged with capital murder and aggravated kidnapping in connection with the death of Nilzult Arneaud Petit, 33, who was found dead on Aug. 24 in Farmers Branch.
Mendoza was found in Las Cruces, New Mexico, while Bolivar and Gonzalez were in Aurora, Colorado.
Petit was involved in an ATM theft operation, and the suspects accused him of withholding stolen money, police said.
"The suspects confronted Petit and demanded payment, which he was unwilling or unable to provide," the Farmers Branch Police Department said in a news release Monday.
Authorities learned Petit and the juveniles were forcibly taken around 12:30 a.m. on Aug. 24 from an apartment complex on Fair Oaks Crossing in Dallas. The suspects fled with the juveniles in a light-colored four-door sedan before releasing them unharmed on the I-35E service road.
A passing motorist found Petit's body hours later – around 3:40 a.m. – in the roadway in the 1100 block of Valley View Lane. He had a single gunshot wound to the head, police said. The two juveniles, possibly related to Petit, were found walking on the service road of I-35E at Corporate Drive in Lewisville.
Police are continuing to search for a fourth suspect, Jhonny Jesus Martinez Serrano, 29, who remains at large.
Anyone with information on Serrano's whereabouts is asked to contact the Farmers Branch Police Department at (972) 919-1406 or via email at pdinfoandtips@farmersbranchtx.gov.
"I am officially declaring TDA a foreign terrorist organization," Governor Greg Abbott said in a press conference last month in Houston. Abbott announced he was dedicating more resources, as well as a special strike team to combat TDA's growing presence in Texas. "I directed DPS to elevate TDA to a tier one gang, the worst of the worst," Abbott added "These strike teams will collaborate with Texas anti-gang center law enforcement officers to surge resources to areas where known or suspected TDA activity is taking place."
Farmers Branch police also said the Texas Department of Public Safety and the FBI are assisting with this investigation. The Dallas FBI office sent CBS News Texas the following statement regarding the presence of violent gangs in Texas and North Texas:
"FBI Dallas remains steadfast in our commitment to working with our local and state partners to combat violent gang activity in our area.
Through the FBI's Violent Gang Safe Streets Task Force, the FBI and our partners pursue violent gangs through sustained, proactive, and coordinated investigations to obtain prosecutions on violations such as racketeering, drug conspiracy, and possession of firearms. Through these investigative efforts, cooperation and communication among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies are significantly enhanced, increasing productivity, and avoiding duplication of investigative efforts. The FBI is coordinating and deconflicting with our partners every day, and sharing analytical and investigative resources among our agencies. Additionally, the FBI prioritizes proactive engagement with our community members and neighbors, working closely with the community to guide our activity, develop sources, and generate leads, so we can bring violent criminals to justice and make the city's streets safer. At all levels of government, it is our most fundamental duty to safeguard people's right to live without fear of violence, and the FBI continues to use all of our tools and strategic community partnerships to meet that duty."
Detectives are still searching for a fourth suspect, 29-year-old Jhonny Serrano, who is also suspected of being affiliated with TDA. Anyone with information about the Serrano's whereabouts is asked to contact the Farmers Branch Police Department at (972) 919- 1406 or via email at pdinfoandtips@farmersbranchtx.gov. Individuals contacting the Farmers Branch Police Department with information can remain anonymous.