Update-Lake Falcon Shooting

[J Price085]

Here's a satement issued by the Zapata County Sherrifs office regarding the shooting.

"On Tuesday December 6, 2016, at approximately 8:45 P.M. Deputies and Investigator's from the Zapata County Sheriff's Office were dispatched the Falcon State Park Boat Ramp, in Falcon Heights, Texas in Zapata County in reference to a possible shooting between two boats out on Falcon Lake. Upon arrival at the scene they were advised by assisting agencies that Game Warden had located a boat on the water and had found that an unidentified male subject was deceased. The male was found to be in the passenger's side of a bass boat where he had several fatal gunshot wounds.


Investigators were also advised that a male subject identified as Javier Armando Gonzalez of 21 years of age was rescued from the waters of Falcon Lake. Gonzalez was found hanging on to a buoy in Falcon Lake. J. Gonzalez was the driver of the boat while the shooting occurred. Gonzalez was suffering from shock and hypothermia and was taken to the Rio Grande Starr County Hospital for treatment.


Investigators found that the deceased male subject was later identified as Oscar Eduardo Garza 23 years of age from Starr County. Upon further investigation of the crime scene, boat, and inspection of Garza’s body investigators noticed he had sustained two gunshot wounds to the left side of the chest and one gunshot wound to the left side of the head.


Later that night The Zapata County Sheriff’s Investigators and Texas Ranger met with Javier Armando Gonzalez at Rio Grande Starr County Hospital. The Investigators asked Gonzalez what had happened. Gonzalez advised Investigators that he (Gonzalez) and Garza were out fishing on Falcon Lake when it got dark. After a while, Gonzalez stated he heard someone yelling and turned around. Gonzalez noticed that there was a boat a few feet away all blacked out. A male subject yelled at Gonzalez and Garza to get off of the boat.


Gonzalez then noticed that one of the two subjects that were on the boat had a rifle that appeared to be an AK-47. Gonzalez immediately accelerated the boat in attempt to get away. Gonzalez then heard gunshots being fired at them. Gonzalez at that time then jumped out of the boat into the waters of Falcon Lake. While Gonzalez was in the water in an attempt to get to the shoreline, Gonzalez noticed that the blacked out boat was heading to the Mexican side. Gonzalez also noticed that his bass boat continued on the water and was going in circles. Gonzalez yelled out Oscar! Oscar! to get Garza’s attention to make him aware of his location on the water.


Gonzalez then stated that he swam for about 15-20 minutes until he reached a buoy located close to the boat ramp. Gonzalez stated that he then began to yell for help when noticed a truck by the shoreline. Game Wardens were then advised of the situation and deployed a boat and rescued Gonzalez. An active investigation is still being conducted regarding the incident by Zapata County Sheriff’s Office Investigators Unit and Texas Rangers."

[Charlie206]

If you are fishing, then notice a boat and armed people yelling, how do you immediately accelerate? Fishing from the driver seat with the engine running?

[stratos4life]

If you are fishing, then notice a boat and armed people yelling, how do you immediately accelerate? Fishing from the driver seat with the engine running?

I hope they find out who did it. But something doesn't add up to me.

[ou1dadgumit]

smells fishy

[jigflipr76]

Hmmm hopefully I'm just being cynical but me thinks there may have been some details left out of this story.

[fuelleak]

Build the wall

[getfished]

I agree, more to that story.

[Basstronaut]

Drug deal gone bad.

[phupduck]

What kind lures were they using ?

[J Price085]

What kind lures were they using ?

Whopper ploppers, using the kneel and reel technique.

[NAMVET1968]

another RANGER for sale

[billnorman1]

There's a dead man. Another could have died. At first I thought it sounded fishy, but I think it's plausible. I will wait and see.

[Cape Fear]

If I was in a bass boat and I was accelerating away from the threat, the last thing that would come to my mind is to jump out of the boat.

[Iowa Bass Hunter]

If I was in a bass boat and I was accelerating away from the threat, the last thing that would come to my mind is to jump out of the boat.

Ditto

[Nwaangler]

Usually people don't tell the truth when there up to no good. No way a boat just snuck up on you dark or not

[jigman51]

I say it was more like a transfer went bad. You never know though, maybe they wanted to steal the boat and sell it.

[lakefolk]

If I was in a bass boat and I was accelerating away from the threat, the last thing that would come to my mind is to jump out of the boat.

[mikepags]

Just because the guys in boat where 21 and 23, were "fishing" 3 hours after sunset on a Tuesday, in an off times season wise, were sitting in the seats of the boat and not on the decks, and happend to be Spanish everyone assumes this was a drug deal ....oh forgot on a mexician border lake

[g-string]

If I was in a bass boat and I was accelerating away from the threat, the last thing that would come to my mind is to jump out of the boat.

I am with you, if I plane off I am gone. Jumping into the water don't make sense. More to this story for shore.

[Bassman Ia.]

I spoke to a friend of mine that used to guide on Falcon. His thought was a drug deal, he said no one fishes Falcon after sunset. He said he used to see boats loaded with weed, go somewhere and when they headed back to the Mexican side they would be empty. Suprise,