LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - On the most romantic day of the year, couples around Webb County took advantage of the day to get hitched.

Some have known each other for years, while others, like Valeria and Jose Jasso, instantly clicked after clicking on each other’s social media pages.

“We met through Facebook, and then we started talking. He texted me first, and then we met. He took me out to eat and [things just clicked],” Valeria Jasso said.

A year later, Jose Jasso proposed. Both deeply in love, the Jassos were among many couples who lined up to be married by Webb County Judge Bobby Quintana for Precinct 2, Place 1.

Quintana had announced a few days ago that he would be offering free weddings for couples who called in. “It feels good because when I became judge, I said, ‘I’m not going to be a judge that is just going to be in court, but I’ll be there for the community.' This is me doing my part to support the community,” he said.

Now, for the Jasso’s and others, February 14 will mean so much more than before.

The free weddings were only for today, Valentine’s Day. If you would like more information on the courtroom costs, you can call (956) 523-5360.

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) -Larga Vista residents faced a hectic night as police and SWAT worked to convince a man barricaded in his home to come out.

Laredo Police had originally described the situation as low-risk, but minutes after the man had turned himself in and police searched the home, a dead woman was found.

The woman was identified as 24-year-old Vanessa Rodriguez by Laredo Police, being found inside the home located on the 300 block of Largavista Dr.

This is the same home where 42-year-old Martin Ramirez had barricaded himself in for over eight hours. Santiago Garcia, a person who lives in Larga Vista says authorities flooded the neighborhood.

“We couldn’t even come into the neighborhood. We had to park far and walk here because they wouldn’t let anybody through. We thought it was someone who had barricaded themselves over there, but we didn’t know. There were a lot of people there.”

Hours later, Garcia remains shocked, mentioning, “Nothing like that has ever happened here. Something like that, here? I did not expect it. We didn’t even know someone had died there.”

Joe Baeza with Laredo Police stated the investigation began at around 5 p.m. on Thursday, February 13, when a person made a welfare concern about a woman. Based on the information provided, investigators searched the neighborhood.

“The victim’s vehicle was around the corner and they found the car, but it was empty. This one particular house that they went to at the 300 block of Larga Vista, the person wasn’t cooperating, and at one point he wound up barricading himself inside the house,” Baeza said.

Police stated that, at the time, they remained unsure whether Rodriguez was inside the house or being held hostage somewhere else.

Baeza added, “At one point in the evening he opened the door to the home, and the SWAT operators who were outside saw that the man was armed with a handgun.”

He states that at that point the investigation had reached a different level. Neighbors told KNGS that police told them to remain in their homes as the man was armed.

The standoff lasted until 1 a.m. on Friday, February 14, until SWAT opted to breach the home after consulting with negotiators.

“They went ahead and breached the home, utilizing a SWAT robot to go inside and search the different areas of the house going room to room. Finally, found the individual,” Baeza recalled.

Ramirez quickly surrendered, and it was upon carrying out a search warrant that police found Rodriguez in one of the rooms.

Ramirez was then arrested for homicide with police believing he and the victim knew each other. The investigation remains in the early stages, and a cause of death has yet to be released.

Police stated that they would not be providing further details on the state the victim was found so as not to jeopardize the investigation.

EDINBURG, Tex. (KGNS) - The new head of Border Patrol swore in troops this afternoon, February 14, giving them the authority to now arrest immigrants.

In Edinburg, U.S. Border Patrol Chief Mike Banks stood before 300 National Guard and Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) troopers.

Now, troops can arrest immigrants crossing the U.S. illegally. “I will use every possible resource to secure our border. I will not be satisfied that our border is secured until we have operational control, which means anyone who crosses illegally will be apprehended, or no one crosses,“ Banks said.

He adds that he will give the same jurisdiction to troops up north along the Canadian border as well.

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - A man has been arrested after police say he shot a dog last month.

The incident happened on Jan. 25 in the 2500 block of Lyon Street. A caller told police a neighbor may have shot a dog.

Officers checked security video and identified 47-year-old Shane Potter as the suspect. Police say Potter shot the dog on the side of the road and then left.

Laredo Police Department spokesman Jose Espinoza said Potter told officers the dog had killed his daughter’s rabbit earlier that day. The injured dog was taken to a vet for treatment and survived.

Police arrested Potter and remind the public to call animal control instead of taking action themselves.

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - A 37-year-old man has been sentenced to more than 16 years in prison for helping to move large amounts of marijuana.

Gavino Cadena, who pleaded guilty on Nov. 10, 2022, was sentenced to 194 months in prison. He will also serve five years of supervised release after his prison time. The court considered Cadena’s past criminal actions, including his connections to the Cartel del Noreste (CDN) and the Tango Blast gang. While in custody, Cadena was involved in several violent incidents with rival gangs.

According to a press release, Cadena was a leader in the drug operation. He helped organize the transport of over 8,000 pounds of marijuana that was brought into Laredo from Mexico. The drugs were moved through tractor-trailers.

Over the course of the investigation, which involved two related cases, authorities seized more than 17 tons of marijuana worth about $16.4 million. A total of 22 people, including several Mexican nationals, have been convicted for their roles in the operation, with prison sentences ranging from 18 months to 14 years.

Cadena will stay in custody until he is transferred to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Laredo Police Department, and several other law enforcement agencies worked together on the operation.

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - The Webb County Constable’s Office made six arrests on Tuesday, starting with the execution of a warrant for Allen Trevino, who was wanted for deadly conduct involving the discharge of a firearm.

By the afternoon, Pct. 1 deputies had arrested five more individuals on various charges, including possession of a controlled substance, marijuana, and criminal mischief.

All suspects were booked and taken to the Webb County Jail.

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - A routine inspection at the I-35 Border Patrol checkpoint near Laredo led to a major drug bust after agents found what looked like medicine bottles and boxes.

After checking closer, officials discovered the 200 capsules were filled with cocaine.

Border Patrol shared photos of the bottles and boxes on their Facebook page.

There is no word yet on any arrests in the case.