Affidavit details Hudspeth County shooting that killed one migrant; brother's account draws scrutiny
Court documents say a former West Texas detention warden and his brother face manslaughter charges after a migrant was killed and a woman wounded near Sierra Blanca, with investigators noting shifting statements.
By Valentina Cruz ·
Newly obtained court documents are shedding light on a shooting in Hudspeth County that left one migrant dead and another wounded, according to ABC-7, which reviewed an affidavit in the case.
The shooting took place around 7 p.m. on Tuesday, south of Sierra Blanca. According to the affidavit, a group of 13 Mexican migrants was crossing the desert and had stopped to drink water when a vehicle drove past them. The migrants reportedly took cover to avoid being seen.
The affidavit states the vehicle then backed up and the driver got out. He allegedly rested against the hood and fired two shots toward the group before climbing back in and driving away. A male migrant was struck and died at the scene. A female migrant was also hit and is recovering at Del Sol Hospital in El Paso.
Investigators interviewed members of the group, who said they heard one of the men shouting insults at them. They also said the truck's engine was revved. Agents later checked camera footage, located the vehicle and contacted its owner, Michael Sheppard, the former warden of the West Texas Detention Facility. The affidavit says Sheppard was reluctant to discuss the incident and left.
Agents also spoke with his brother, Mark Sheppard. According to the affidavit, Mark first said he had never been at the location of the shooting, but later changed his account and acknowledged that he and his brother were together that night.
Mark Sheppard told investigators the pair had been looking for ducks, then revised that to birds and later to javelinas. He said Michael got out of the vehicle and fired two rounds. The document says Mark asked his brother, "did you get him?" before changing the word "him" to "it."
When officials asked whether the two checked to see if they had hit anything, Mark said they had not. He also acknowledged that he did not report the incident to law enforcement.
Both men face manslaughter charges and are being held at the El Paso County Detention Facility. The Texas Rangers continue to investigate.
Meanwhile, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar is calling on the Department of Justice to investigate the shooting as a hate crime.
Originally published by News Media House · Source: KVIA ABC-7
