LAREDO, TX (KGNS) - A 16-year-old is arrested in Dallas in connection to the fatal shooting that killed a 19-year-old last month.

The shooting happened on Sunday, Nov. 26 at 527 Riverhill Drive.

Laredo Police say the teen was charged with the murder of Roberto Chavez and is being extradited back home to Laredo.

Initially police say that the shooting happened during a gathering after an argument escalated.

Authorities say the teen fled following the fatal shooting on Riverhill.

LAREDO, TX. (KGNS) - A U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer is facing charges of bribery and attempting to import drugs into the U.S.

Thirty-five-year-old Emanuel Celedon working out of a Laredo Port of Entry allegedly accepted money in exchange for allowing someone to come into the country with several kilograms of cocaine.

According to reports, the events took place over the month of Oct.

If convicted Celedon faces up to 15 years in jail and a $250,000 fine.

McALLEN, Texas (Border Report) — Since late October, Mexico has not allowed most U.S. gasoline to be imported south of the border.

This is happening as drug cartels in Mexico are increasingly stealing fuel and gasoline there, and it comes after cartel gunmen forced gas tanker trucks to dump their loads in the border town of Matamoros, south of Brownsville, Texas.

Two South Texas congressmen say the temporary export ban is hurting U.S. trade and violates the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) on exports and imports, which was signed in 2020.

U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, a Democrat who represents Brownsville, recently sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai expressing “grave concern” about the situation in Mexico regarding rising fuel thefts, and a current embargo on many U.S. fuel imports placed by the Mexican government.

“This unprovoked attack is of great concern as it is not an isolated event. My district is heavily impacted by incidents like these which fail to preserve the spirit of the USMCA,” Gonzalez wrote in the Nov. 2 letter to Tai, which his office released Wednesday.

He has asked Tai to intervene with Mexican officials to stop the gasoline ban.

U.S. Reps. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, and Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, also signed the letter, which accuses Mexico of trying to “nationalize its economy and renege on its commitments in the USMCA as a means of empowering its failing state-owned petroleum company.”

Cuellar told Border Report on Thursday that it doesn’t make sense for Mexico to ban gasoline imports from the United States when the country is suffering gasoline thefts.

Cuellar said he believes it is the current Mexican administration’s way of trying to circumvent changes to the country’s energy policies that were put in place by the previous administration.

“They’re using a problem that they’ve had for so many years to justify why they should attack American energy, which is in violation of the USMCA,” Cuellar told Border Report. “When the criminal organizations steal their fuel, one, the government is losing revenues; two, you’re enriching the criminal organizations; and three, by using that as an excuse, you’re attacking the spirit of the law of the USMCA by attacking energy.”

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador on Oct. 23 announced a ban on dozens of refined petroleum and petro chemical products, including U.S. gasoline. He says this was done to stop the rising theft of gasoline within the country.

The ban came a week after “cartel gunmen forced a dozen tanker trucks to dump imported U.S. gasoline into a field at gunpoint,” on Oct 16 in Matamoros, according to the letter.

The stealing of gasoline is called “huachicoleo” and has been a problem in Mexico for years, according to several reports.

Cuellar says it is driven by Mexican drug cartels that have expanded their operations from the trafficking of illegal drugs and humans to exploitation of other commodities, like energy.

Plus, gasoline is far more expensive in Mexico, by about 125% in some instances, which is driving the cartel to capitalize on this industry.

“The bottom line is there is a difference of price of the U.S. and the fuel over there in Mexico,” Cuellar said.

Cuellar says he has not heard of any instances similar to the Matamoros gas dumping occurring south of his hometown of Laredo in Nuevo Laredo, or south of the South Texas border area he represents, which includes the counties of Webb, Zapata and Starr.

Gonzalez wrote that the incident in Matamoros has “heavily impacted” his district.

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - In a dramatic rescue captured on body camera footage on Friday, December 1, a Border Patrol agent is seen saving a migrant from the currents of the Rio Grande River.

The video reveals the intense moment when the Border Patrol agent, working along the riverbanks, responds upon noticing an individual struggling in the water. The agent jumps into action, reaching the distressed migrant and bringing them to safety.

The footage was recently shared across the federal agency’s social media platforms.

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - Border Flea Market is set to host “The Car Show Before Christmas,” an event for car enthusiasts and festive celebrants alike.

Scheduled to take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on December 9, this car extravaganza promises a day of family-friendly fun and the perfect opportunity for automotive aficionados to revel in the holiday spirit. The Border Flea Market, located at 7229 TX-359, will serve as the backdrop for this event.

“The Car Show Before Christmas” aims to bring together the community in a celebration of all things automotive, blending the thrill of impressive vehicles with the festive cheer of the holiday season. Attendees can expect to witness a stunning array of cars, from classic models to custom creations, all on display for enthusiasts to admire and discuss.

In addition to the visually captivating car display, attendees can treat themselves to complimentary donuts, adding a sweet touch to the day’s festivities.

LAREDO, TX. (KGNS) - It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas everywhere you go, including the City of Laredo.

Santa’s little helpers over at the Sames Auto Arena have been hard at working preparing for its annual Navidad Fest.

Every year, the arena and the parking lot transforms into the North Pole where family members can enjoy some holiday festivities including train rides, snow slides, ice skating and of course, pictures with Santa.

Before you lace up your skates and hit the ice, you need to book a time slot for your skate session.

The event will take place on Wednesday, Dec. 6 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. with the Christmas Tree Lighting happening at 7 p.m.

It’s free and open to the public.

LAREDO, TX. (KGNS) -The Laredo Police Department continues to investigate the death of Refugio Chavez Jr., 44, who was allegedly hit and killed by an SUV in east Laredo last December.

While authorities continue to search for the man accused in the hit-and-run, the victim’s family is speaking out about how they are coping with the loss of their loved one.

On Dec. 9, 2022, Deborah Avalos and Elena de Luna’s family suffered a great loss after Refugio Chavez Jr. lost his life in a vehicle crash.

“I recall my mom calling me to go and check up on my grandma, because she was already in the hospital with my uncle and I asked her: “What happened?”, and she told me that he apparently was in a rollover,” said Deborah Avalos. “When I arrived to the scene, the cops were already there and his belonging were in the street.”

On Tuesday, KGNS News spoke with Deborah and Elena following the one-year anniversary of Refugio’s death.

Deborah said they miss Refugio dearly, especially around the holiday season.

“You know how the TV nowadays they announce the Christmas lights and all those stories, he loved decorating for Christmas and for Halloween also, he was the one to put the lights up like weeks before and he was the life of the party at the house,” said Deborah.

Elena said that on the day of the accident, Refugio was walking back to his house from a party, that’s when a dark SUV allegedly hit him and took his life.

While police continue to investigate the case, both Deborah and Elena say they too are trying to find the suspect.

“My brother, my other brother is being asking around. We’ve been sharing on Facebook, spreading the word to see if they see him because they believe that he has family here, so I guess sooner or later I guess he has to come back,” said Elena. “I mean he may have escaped from the police here and what not, and he might be out there free, but there is one day that we are not going to be here on Earth, and he is going to face God.”

The family members say police were able to identify Ramiro Hernandez as the suspect from surveillance video captured back in 2022.

As for now, Laredo Police say Hernandez still has a pending felony warrant.

Although police confirm the suspect is still at large, Chavez’s Family said they will not stop until justice is served.

“He does have family here, he is going to be returning to his family, but it’s not going to be the same. Everyone is going to be on the lookout. I mean I won’t stop and if I ever pass away like this, I’m still going to tell my kids to be on the lookout because there has to be justice,” said Elena.

If you have any information regarding the location of Ramiro Hernandez, you are asked to call Laredo Police at 956-795-2800 or Crime Stoppers at 956-727-TIPS.