Undocumented immigrant arrested in Ellis Co. after 'cocaine and alcohol' hallucinations, police say
Man arrested for firing on family's home
Police say a man who was both drunk and high on cocaine was firing rounds into his family's home. They say he called 911 about the gunfire, saying he delusional and having hallucinations.
FERRIS, Texas - An undocumented Mexican national was arrested early Sunday morning in Ferris after calling 911 saying people were trying to kill him and that his entire family had been murdered.
When police and deputies from Ellis County arrived just after 2:30 a.m., they found the caller was the source of the threat. He has been identified as 47-year-old Homero Salinas.
Cocaine and Alcohol Hallucinations
What we know:
Police say Salinas was under the influence of alcohol and cocaine and was experiencing hallucinations and thought he was under attack and his family had been killed.
The investigation revealed Salinas lives in a rear dwelling of a home in the 800 block of East 8th Street. Police say he fired about 30 rounds, including multiple shots, into the front residence, where his family lived.
Investigators say his family was unaware that he was the one who made the 911 call or fired the weapon. The family was found hiding on the floor inside their home. They were not harmed.
After the shooting, Salinas left the home and started walking down East 8th Street.
Homero Salinas, 47 (Source: Ellis County Jail)
Police officers and deputies found Salinas and put him in custody. Investigators found multiple firearms and ammunition.
When Salinas' fingerprints were in the system, police learned Salinas was a Mexican citizen and was in the United States illegally. Further investigation revealed Salinas had previously been handled by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), specifically U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), in 2013, at which time a detainer was placed on him.
The case is still under investigation.
Salinas faces a charge of deadly conduct by discharging a firearm. His bond has been set at $10,000, according to jail records.
What they're saying:
Chris Ahuyon lives across the street. He went outside to check and noticed Salinas standing near his ditch, acting hysterical and armed with a pistol.
The father of three worried about his wife and three kids, who were sleeping inside.
"He kind of bolted for my yard. I stopped and yelled at him. He reached for his weapon. He didn't pull it out. So I reached for mine as well," he recalled. "And at that point, I think he got scared, and he ran in the other direction."
Ahuyon was able to point police to where Salinas was headed while hearing more gunshots go off.
"I truly think if I didn't have my weapon that early morning, something tragic could have happened," he said. "I’m glad I was able to keep him from coming into the neighborhood."
The Source: Information in this article is from the City of Ferris.