IRVING, TX – Authorities have apprehended a suspect in connection with a fatal shooting at a Chick-fil-A restaurant that left two people dead. The suspect, identified as 37-year-old Oved Bernardo Mendoza Argueta, is a citizen of El Salvador and is in the United States illegally.
Mendoza Argueta faces charges of capital murder following the incident on Wednesday at the fast-food chain located on North MacArthur Boulevard. According to Irving Police, he was taken into custody early Thursday morning and is currently under an ICE hold, with the Immigration and Naturalization Service in Dallas/Fort Worth involved in the case.
The shooting, which occurred around 3:40 p.m., claimed the life of Patricia Portillo, one of the victims identified in the arrest warrant. The document also revealed that Mendoza Argueta’s spouse, an employee at the Chick-fil-A, was a witness and positively identified him as the shooter.
The second victim’s identity has not been released pending notification of next of kin. During the manhunt, authorities circulated a photo of Mendoza Argueta and the 1997 Honda sedan he was last seen driving.
Officials believe the shooting was a targeted attack rather than a random act of violence. Television footage from the scene showed police cars blocking off the restaurant’s parking lot and screens placed in front of some windows.
The incident has raised concerns about the safety of public spaces and the complexities surrounding immigration enforcement. As the investigation continues, the community remains on edge, grappling with the tragic loss and seeking answers.