HOUSTON, TX – A man from the Houston area, who was sought in connection to the murder of his ex-girlfriend’s 12-year-old son, has been apprehended at the Texas-Mexico border, as per the information released by the authorities on Tuesday.
Terry Rivera, 27, was detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Brownsville Port of Entry on Monday. The arrest comes as border traffic increases due to Spring Break, with CBP officers maintaining strict vigilance.
Michael Reyes, Acting Director of the Brownsville Port of Entry, praised the efforts of the officers, emphasizing that such arrests underscore the significance of CBP’s commitment to its border security mission.
The charges against Rivera stem from the shooting death of Carlos Fernandez on March 4. Allegedly, Rivera fired into the window of his former girlfriend’s apartment in Harris County, resulting in the fatal shooting of Fernandez. The young boy was declared dead at the scene, according to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez.
Initial investigations suggested that Fernandez was sleeping in the same room as his younger sisters when the incident occurred. However, further probing revealed that he was in the living room and rushed to his sisters’ room upon hearing the disturbance.
Sheriff Gonzalez praised Fernandez’s bravery, stating that his actions demonstrated his strength and heroic nature. He expressed sorrow over the loss of a promising young life.
During Rivera’s apprehension at the border, he was subjected to a secondary inspection. CBP officers utilized biometric verification and federal law enforcement databases to confirm his identity. It was then that they discovered an outstanding capital murder arrest warrant issued by the Harris County Sheriff’s office against Rivera. He was subsequently arrested and handed over to Cameron County sheriff’s deputies.
In a related development, Rivera’s mother, Alva Cornejo, was arrested and charged with allegedly obstructing her son’s apprehension.