LAREDO, TX. (KGNS) - A former Border Patrol agent accused of murdering a woman and her child is found guilty on both counts.

After five years, of waiting, seven days of trial and roughly four hours of deliberation, the jury convicted Ronald Anthony Burgos Aviles of two counts of murder in the killings of Grizelda and baby Dominic.

The murders were reported on April 9, 2018 when authorities found the bodies of a woman identified as Grizelda Hernandez, 27, and baby Dominic Hernandez, who was just a one-year-old at the time.

Over the span of just seven days, a total of 22 witnesses took the stand to go over the findings of the case.

Just some of those witnesses included, Angelica Hernandez, Grizelda’s sister, Dr. Antonio Rodriguez, Dominic’s doctor, Dr. Corinne Stern, the Webb County Medical Examiner, Border Patrol Agent Bradly Dennison, one of Burgos’ coworkers and Laredo Police Department Investigator Raimundo Garcia.

After listening to the testimonies of family members, medical examiner’s, Laredo Police investigators and coworkers close to Burgos, the jury returned a guilty verdict.

He faces up to 30 years to life in prison and even a possible death sentence.

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - A concerning trend in Laredo continues.

As we enter the seventh month of the year, the Laredo Police Department has reported another increase in overdose deaths, which had already surpassed last year’s numbers.

As of today, the total stands at 42 overdose deaths that have been recorded. That number includes the most recent case involving a 44-year-old man.

The police department is collaborating closely with the health department, the Laredo Fire Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration to address this critical issue.

Inv. Joe Baeza with the Laredo Police Department says, ”We’re also trying to identify the people who are responsible for putting this product out in the streets. They don’t care whether or not people die. Drug dealers don’t care whether a person survives or not.”

In response to the surge in fentanyl-related incidents, the state has taken steps to increase punishment for those involved in the sale of this dangerous substance.

In an effort to engage the community and address their concerns, an upcoming town hall meeting is scheduled for this month.

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - Today is the day to celebrate everyone’s favorite sugary treat.

We just gave billions of people around the world an excellent excuse to eat a delicious treat today

Whether, you like a particular candy bar, hot chocolate, brownies, or any fruits dipped in chocolate, today is your day to enjoy.

And while we’ve mentioned that chocolate comes from the cacao tree that’s primarily grown in South America, here’s a fun fact you might not be aware of--there are 4 types of chocolate, unsweetened or dark chocolate, sweet chocolate, milk chocolate, and white chocolate.

Whatever kind You like, enjoy it today!

BEIJING (AP) — China on Friday insisted it is up to the U.S. to “create necessary conditions” for anti-drugs cooperation, following complaints from Washington that Beijing has ignored its calls for a crackdown on precursor chemicals for the highly addictive painkiller fentanyl.

China takes an “active part in international anti-narcotic cooperation and firmly opposes smears and unilateral sanctions on other countries under the pretext of the fight against drugs,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a daily briefing.

“We urge the U.S. to correct wrongdoings with concrete actions and create necessary conditions for the two countries’ anti-narcotic cooperation,” Wang said.

U.S. diplomats and anti-drug officials have repeatedly complained that China has ignored calls for closer cooperation on combating the production and sale of fentanyl precursor chemicals.

Wang gave no details on the source of Chinese discontent or what conditions it was looking for. However, Washington and Beijing are at odds on a wide-range of issues, from trade to Taiwan and U.S. sanctions against the Chinese defense minister.

China was also deeply angered by a decision late last month by the U.S. Justice Department to file criminal charges against four Chinese companies and eight individuals for allegedly trafficking the chemicals used to make fentanyl in the United States and Mexico.

The indictments represented the first prosecutions to charge China-based chemical companies and Chinese nationals with illegally selling the chemicals used to make the drug, which has been blamed for a deadly overdose crisis.

The Chinese Embassy condemned the charges, accusing the U.S. government of seeking to shift the blame for its domestic drug problem.

China has also complained over sanctions leveled against the Ministry of Public Security’s Institution of Forensic Science over a lack of action on combating the production and sale of fentanyl precursor chemicals, and says U.S. claims of a pipeline of such substances from China to Mexico and into the U.S. is a fallacy.

China cut off contacts with the United States entirely on vital issues including military matters, crucial climate cooperation and anti-drug cooperation last August amid a furious reaction to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan.

Those contacts have only partially been restored and military contacts remain entirely on hold.

Wang’s comments came as U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is visiting Beijing to try to revive strained relations. No breakthroughs are expected, and on Friday, Yellen criticized Chinese treatment of U.S. companies and new export controls on metals used in semiconductors.

There was no immediate word on whether she had raised the fentanyl issue.

EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) – As the federal hate crimes case against the El Paso Walmart mass shooter concludes, Texas state prosecutors are preparing to take Patrick Wood Crusius to court once again. And this time, his life will be on the line.

“I want to emphasize that nothing that happens in the federal courthouse will affect what happens in the state courthouse,” El Paso District Attorney Bill Hicks said on Thursday. “We are still going to be prosecuting the Walmart shooter. We are still going to be seeking the death penalty.”

Crusius has pleaded guilty to federal hate crimes and weapons charges. Senior U.S. Federal District Judge David C. Guaderrama is expected to sentence him to 90 consecutive terms of life in prison on Friday under the plea agreement.

Crusius, who according to investigators on the morning of Aug. 3, 2019, drove 10 hours from North Texas to El Paso to “kill Mexicans,” will go remain on federal custody at the El Paso County Jail until October or November. Twenty-three people died in the attack and 22 others sustained injuries.

“We originally thought we would have him back in our custody a little sooner,” Hicks said. “We’ve waited four years to prosecute him, waiting another couple of months is not going to change anything.”

The state is charging Crusius with one count of capital murder involving multiple victims, and 22 counts for aggravated assault, the DA said at a news conference Thursday in his office.

“Although (the charges) come out of the same incident, the federal charges are hate-crime oriented and for the use of a firearm. Our case is simpler, more straightforward. He committed murder of multiple people at one time. (That’s) capital murder,” Hicks said.

The district attorney declined to answer some reporters’ questions due to a gag order issued by State District Judge Sam Medrano. But the DA emphasized his commitment to secure a conviction and give the jury the option to sentence the defendant to death.

“One of my number one objectives, when I took this job, was to get the Walmart case back on track. We have done that,” Hicks said. “We have a dedicated highly skilled qualified team of prosecutors, investigators and staff members dedicated to prosecuting nothing but the Walmart case. Whenever Judge Medrano tells us, we will be ready to prosecute this case.”

No date has been set yet for the state capital murder trial against Crusius, and the DA’s Office can only estimate it will take place sometime in 2024 or early 2025.

Hicks said it was a “tremendous burden” to decide on whether to seek the death penalty against the shooter because of strong community emotions on the issue.

“Ultimately, the decision will be left in the jury’s hands […] I felt it is appropriate that a jury reach that decision, not us,” he said.

EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) – The sentencing phase of the El Paso Walmart mass shooting federal hate-crimes trial will be moving into its third and possibly final day on Friday. An emotionally charged hearing on Thursday evidenced a community still in shock at the loss of life and grieving survivors determined to go on with their lives despite the actions of a man they called a “monster.”

“I don’t care if he’s sorry. I don’t forgive him. I don’t think he deserves anyone’s forgiveness. But I do want him to have to see my face – all our faces – and see the victims and see what he’s done to all these people,” said Amaris Vega, whose aunt Teresa Sanchez was among 23 people who died in the Aug. 3, 2019, mass shooting at the Walmart near Cielo Vista Mall.

Vega was among several relatives of the victims – and some survivors – who faced Patrick Wood Crusius in a federal courtroom and told him how his actions impacted their lives. Crusius in February pleaded guilty to hate crimes and is facing 90 consecutive life terms in prison when this hearing concludes.

Most of the relatives honored and shared memories of their lost loved ones. One man said his son wanted to grow up to be a Border Patrol agent before he was gunned down. A woman exulted her late husband for being the pillar of his home and said he would never be there to give his daughter out at her wedding or counsel his son the first time he will fall in love.

But others took umbrage at Crusius’ casual, detached behavior during their testimony and could not help lashing out. Crusius stared straight ahead and occasionally slightly moved his head left to right or rocked in his swivel chair during testimony.

“I’ve seen you smile, roll your eyes, mumble while sitting there with the protection of U.S. marshals, God bless them,” said Dean Reckard, whose 65-year-old mother Margie Reckard was among the deceased.

“Have the balls to look at me! You had the balls to do this, right?” said Francisco Javier Rodriguez, father of slain 15-year-old Javier Amir Rodriguez. “I will never see him again, I will never see him grown up, there will be no more celebrations, no birthdays because of you!”

Some suggested Crusius should have turned on himself the automatic rifle he used in the shooting. Others wished him sleepless nights in jail in a city filled with Hispanics. Investigators said the shooter posted an online manifesto saying he was upset at the “Hispanic invasion” of Texas.

“In your pathetic sorry manifesto, you said you wanted to rid Texas of this Hispanic invasion. You failed. We are still here. We are not going anywhere. You are stuck in a city full of Hispanics. The joke is on you,” Vega said in court.

Others wanted Crusius to know that the pain and loss he inflicted on them only made them stronger..

“My mother Rosa would want you to know that only God can forgive you,” said Isabel Piedra, daughter of Teresa Sanchez, who died at a hospital shortly after the shooting. “(And) what you’ve done has given me strength to deal with whatever comes our way. We are stronger.”

The victim impact statements portion of the sentencing concluded on Thursday afternoon. Senior U.S. District Judge David C. Guaderrama called for the sentencing hearing to resume at 10 a.m. .on Friday.