Senseless act
The San Benito Police Department (SBPD), the City of San Benito, Cameron County District Attorney Luis Saenz, and DPS held a joint press conference shortly after 12:30 p.m. Wednesday at SBPD headquarters on N. Oscar Williams Rd. detailing the events leading to and immediately following the shooting death of SBPD Lieutenant Milton Resendez, who was shot in the abdominal area during a vehicular pursuit that found its way to San Benito late Tuesday night. Saenz is seen at the podium during the press conference, flanked by two DPS officers. (Staff photo by Ray Quiroga)
By RAY QUIROGA
rayq@portisabelsouthpadre.com
An officer-involved shooting that claimed the life of a veteran lieutenant originated on South Padre Island.
San Benito citizens are reeling after the loss of one of their own, police lieutenant Milton Resendez, a native son and law enforcement veteran gunned down in the line of duty during a motor vehicle pursuit on Sam Houston Blvd. late Tuesday night, October 17, 2023.
According to authorities, events unfolded at around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, as Cameron County Park Rangers pulled over a red GMC pickup truck for allegedly speeding on the South Padre Island beach. The truck was occupied by two men, two women and two children.
As a park ranger questioned the driver upon exiting the pickup, the passenger allegedly jumped into the driver’s seat, speeding off as the original driver jumped into the truck’s bed, according to Cameron County District Attorney Luis V. Saenz.
The pursuit continued through Port Isabel before entering Brownsville, where gunfire was allegedly exchanged between the occupants of the truck and law enforcement. According to Saenz, the women and children were allowed to exit the truck shortly after the pursuit commenced. Saenz said the women were taken into custody for questioning.
By 5 p.m., the truck was found disabled, and authorities began searching for the two suspects near the Brownsville FM 511 area.
At 10:30 p.m., the suspects were spotted in a black Ford Expedition, initiating another pursuit. At 10:58 p.m., San Benito police were informed of the chase involving DPS. When they entered city limits through the San Jose Ranch Rd., San Benito officers engaged in the pursuit, San Benito Police Chief Mario G. Perea said Wednesday.
As the chase reached North Sam Houston Blvd., Resendez was fatally wounded.
On Wednesday, October 18, 2023, the San Benito Police Department (SBPD), the City of San Benito, District Attorney Saenz, and the Texas Department of Public Safety Highway Patrol (DPS) held a press conference shortly after 12:30 p.m. at SBPD headquarters, 601 N. Oscar Williams Rd., detailing the events leading to and immediately following the shooting death of Resendez, who was shot in the abdominal area during the vehicular pursuit.
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