Local man flees shooting and lands in prison

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 27-year-old Falfurrias resident has been ordered to federal prison for illegally possessing firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Johnny Rey Garza pleaded guilty April 26.

Today, U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos ordered Garza to serve 70 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. 

On March 10, 2022, law enforcement received multiple calls reporting theft of a firearm and shots fired at two different residences, both involving Garza. Upon responding to the shooting, they observed a man with a wound to the right foot and left arm. The victim identified Garza as the shooter and the person who stole his pickup truck.

The vehicle matching the description of the victim’s truck was involved in a accident near Falfurrias. Law enforcement arrived at that scene and observed Garza exit the truck with a handgun in his hand. He then fled. Authorities pursued but ultimately lost sight of him.

They then deployed a drone which Garza attempted to shoot as it tracked his whereabouts. A brief struggle ensued, but law enforcement was eventually able to apprehend him and take him into custody.  

They soon located the firearm in a fresh dirt mound. They identified it as the stolen weapon from the calls reported earlier that evening.

As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition per federal law.

Garza has been and 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 assistance from Falfurrias Police Department, Brooks County Sheriff’s Office and Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel Dunn prosecuted the case.