The identities of the two victims who tragically lost their lives in a Texas Chick-fil-A shooting have been released by the police. Authorities are holding a man in custody, suspected of carrying out the fatal shooting inside the fast food restaurant in Irving, Texas on Wednesday.
According to an arrest affidavit, the suspect's wife is an employee at Chick-fil-A. The Dallas County Medical Examiner identified one of the victims as 49-year-old Patricia Portillo.
The other victim was named as 31-year-old Brayan Alexis Godoy. Both victims were employees at the restaurant. The suspect in the Chick-fil-A shooting has been identified as 37-year-old Oved Bernardo Mendoza Argueta. "We do believe this was a targeted incident and not a random act of violence," said Anthony Alexander from the Irving Police Department, reports the Mirror US . "There is no threat to the public."
An Irving Police Department spokeswoman confirmed on Thursday morning that "We can confirm that the suspect was taken into custody early this morning," adding that Mendoza Argueta is currently under an "ICE hold," with the warrant agency being Immigration and Naturalization Service Dallas/Fort Worth.
The local owner-operator of the Chick-fil-A expressed his sorrow over the incident, stating, "Our hearts are broken by the tragedy that unfolded inside our restaurant Wednesday. We will miss our two team members greatly. Right now, our priority is to care for our staff and the victims' families."
The local constabulary was called to the Chick-fil-A on North MacArthur Boulevard just before 4 p.m. Wednesday after receiving a flurry of 911 calls about a shooting. Alexander stated that upon arrival, officers found two individuals who had been shot inside the establishment.
The motive for the shooting remains unclear as the investigation is still in its preliminary phase, he added. During the manhunt, authorities circulated a photograph of Mendoza Argueta and an image of the 1997 Honda 4-door he was believed to be driving.
An official has stated that the shooting was "a targeted incident and that this was not a random act of violence. "Argueta faces capital murder charges. According to the Chick-fil-A website, the affected branch was immediately shut down.
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There has been no confirmation of when it will reopen. At the time of the shooting, the restaurant was bustling with patrons. Police have assured there is no ongoing danger to the public. A distressed mother recounted how her daughter, who was at the Taco Bell across the street during the incident, phoned her from the restroom in tears, saying, "She called me from the bathroom crying because she's scared.
"She's like, 'Mom, some people got shot. It sounded like a car wreck. She's like, 'They're jumping out the window!
"And I'm like what am I supposed to do?," recounted Latina Williams, describing the chaos as people leapt from the drive-thru window. At that moment, a mother's concern is my baby. How soon can I get to her."
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