Venezuelan gang members charged in Dallas-area murder

Three Venezuelans, all in the country illegally, were the latest to be arrested on charges of capital murder and aggravated kidnapping that allegedly occurred in Farmers Branch, a northwest suburb of Dallas.

Two suspects were arrested in Aurora, Colorado; one was arrested in Las Cruces, New Mexico. All three will be extradited to Texas. The fourth remains at large.

All five Venezuelans are believed to be members of a national ATM theft ring, the Farmers Police Department said. announced This week.

The three arrested were charged with the capital murder of 33-year-old Nilzult Petit, who is also a confirmed TDA gang member.

The arrests are related to the murder of Petit on August 24, 2024. Farmers Branch police officers found his body with a single gunshot wound to the head. FBPD and Lewisville Police officers also located two juveniles believed to be known to Petit who were found walking along the I-35 access road in Lewisville early that day.

Upon locating them, officers learned that “Petit and two juveniles were forcibly removed by multiple unknown suspects from an apartment complex at Fair Oaks Crossing in Dallas around 12:30 p.m. The suspects drove Petit and two juveniles to Farmers Branch. , where Petit was subsequently shot. The suspects then fled the scene with two juveniles in a light-colored four-door sedan and later released the juveniles unharmed on the IH-35E service road,” FBPD said in a statement.

Through an extensive investigation, FBPD detectives were able to initially identify two suspects they believed to be Petit’s associates allegedly involved in a complex ATM theft operation targeting multiple locations across the country. After the latest ATM theft, “suspects accused Petit of hiding some of the stolen money” from other participants in the theft. They reportedly confronted Petit and demanded payment “which he was unwilling or unable to provide. Petit and two minors were then forcibly removed from their apartment complex and driven to the Farmers Branch area where he was executed, FBPD said.

The investigation led FBPD detectives to Aurora, Colorado, where they went in September to interview two suspects. They were already in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody. They were subsequently charged with capital murder and aggravated kidnapping and are awaiting extradition to Texas.

Working with Homeland Security Investigations, detectives were also able to identify a third suspect who is believed to be the alleged mastermind of the ATM theft operation. On October 11, he was arrested in Las Cruces, New Mexico on outstanding warrants for felony murder and aggravated kidnapping out of Dallas County. He is also currently awaiting extradition.

During the investigation, detectives also confirmed that Petit and all suspects are associated with TDA, and the murder is not related to any other investigation or criminal matter in Farmers Branch.

A fourth suspect, 29-year-old Johnny Jesus Martinez Serrano, remains at large. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to contact the FBI, anonymously, at 972-919-1406 or (email protected).

FBPD is actively cooperating with numerous law enforcement agencies, which it said “played an instrumental role in the investigation, search, tracking and apprehension of the homicide suspects.”

Federal agencies involved in this case include DHS HSI; ICE; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; FBI; US Marshals Service; and the US Secret Service.

Government agencies involved in the case include the Texas Department of Public Safety; Texas Financial Crimes Crime Center; Colorado Bureau of Investigation; Colorado State Police; and the South Dakota Attorney’s Office. County agencies include Cuyahoga County, Ohio; Campbell County, Wyoming; Meade County, South Dakota; Dona Ana County, New Mexico; and the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office.

City agencies include the Dallas Police Department; Aurora Police Department; Gillette, Wyoming Police Department; Middleburg Heights, Ohio Police Department; Belle Fourche, South Dakota Police Department; Oklahoma City Police Department; Lawton, Oklahoma Police Department; Irving Police Department; Greenville Police Department; and the Carrollton Police Department.

The multi-agency operation continued as Gov. Greg Abbott launched initiative to curb TDA crimes, which have exploded under the Biden-Harris administration. He also called the TDA a foreign terrorist organization.

Texas Police Department also offer Reward up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest of TDA gang members. DPS and city law enforcement operations continue to successfully prosecute TDA crimes in Dallas, Houston and San Antonio Central Square. reported.

The news comes as it was reported that more than a million Venezuelans have entered the country illegally under the Biden-Harris administration, The Center Square exclusively. reported.