Laredo man sent to prison after shooting

LAREDO, Texas – A 29-year-old Laradoan has been ordered to federal prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Jimmy Lara pleaded guilty Feb. 28, 2022.  

Today, U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña ordered Jimmy Lara to serve a total of 108 months in prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional information about possible enhancements for committing a felony with the firearm and discarding the loaded firearm near a school.

On Jan. 5, 2022, authorities responded to a 911 report of shots fired on the 1500 block of Pinder Avenue. There, a passenger in a brown pickup truck had apparently fired shots at a white van.

Law enforcement observed a vehicle matching the description and attempted a traffic stop. Lara was the passenger, but had exited the vehicle and began running towards Juarez Avenue. He appeared to have an object in one of his hands.

Authorities briefly chased him on foot and apprehended him after approximately one block. They returned to Juarez avenue where they located a .22 caliber revolver on the sidewalk.

The investigation revealed Lara has prior convictions for robbery and aggravated robbery. As such, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition per federal law.

In addition, the firearm was reported stolen out of Mathis.

Lara will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Laredo Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul A. Harrison is prosecuting the case.