A Texas police officer and Army veteran is behind bars in Mexico after authorities say a bitter custody dispute exploded into a deadly shooting that left three people dead and the mother of his 3-year-old son critically wounded.
Chad Eberle, 35, is accused of opening fire at a home in Saltillo, Coahuila, on Aug. 4 after an argument over whether he could take his young son back to the United States. Mexican authorities say the violence stemmed from the ongoing custody conflict.
According to investigators, Eberle allegedly became enraged after being told he could not take the boy to the U.S.
Three people were shot and killed inside the home.
Mexican authorities identified the dead as 44-year-old Ana Laura de León Morín, 22-year-old Laura Jaquelín Mora de León and 54-year-old Emanuel Montero.
Eberle’s former partner and the mother of his child, Litzy Anahí Mora de León, was also shot. She was hospitalized in serious condition after suffering a gunshot wound to the head.
Authorities say Eberle then fled with the couple’s 3-year-old son.
He was arrested the following day near the border while allegedly attempting to cross back toward Eagle Pass, Texas. Mexican authorities had obtained a warrant accusing him of crimes including femicide and qualified homicide.
The child was later placed in the custody of Mexican child protection authorities in Saltillo while the criminal investigation continued.
The case has drawn additional scrutiny because of Eberle’s lengthy law-enforcement background in Texas.
Records show he became a licensed Texas peace officer in 2017 and worked for several agencies over the years, including the Northside Independent School District Police Department, Bexar County Constable Precinct 2, the Gregory Police Department, Lockney Police Department, Bangs Police Department and Santa Anna Police Department.
At the time of his arrest, Eberle was associated with the Santa Anna Police Department, where the chief said he had taken personal leave and was serving as an unpaid reserve officer about one weekend a month.
He is also an Army veteran, with Texas licensing records crediting him with thousands of military service hours.
Prosecutors later alleged during court proceedings that Eberle entered Mexico with a .45-caliber firearm despite having a restraining order in the United States and a reported history of domestic violence allegations.
Eberle has since been ordered to remain in custody at the Saltillo men’s prison while the case moves forward.
A judge determined there was sufficient evidence for him to face prosecution and ordered pretrial detention because of the seriousness of the charges.
His defense reportedly attempted to raise mental-health issues, including a post-traumatic stress disorder diagnosis, but the judge rejected the argument as insufficient to prevent the case from proceeding.
During one court hearing, Eberle reportedly asked the judge whether he could have access to an outdoor area because he felt “very enclosed” inside the prison.
Mexican authorities are continuing to investigate the deadly attack as Eberle remains jailed and awaits further court proceedings.