“The report of shots fired wasn't immediately reported,” said Big Spring Police Department Lt. Terry Chamness. “The incident occurred near Cantu Hydraulics. The report doesn't specify how many shots were believed to have been fired, but there were no injuries. The only thing that is believed to have been hit during the shooting was C&M Garage's building, which is located across the street. The owner of the garage said he heard something hit the building.”
According to officials with the Big Spring Police Department, Nava is a known member of the Latin Kings street gang which has been engaged in a turf war with a local family for several months now.
“A witness at the scene of the shooting was able to identify Nava,” said Chamness. “He was taken into custody at a location in Coahoma without incident.”
The alleged dispute between the two groups turned deadly Sunday night when local residents Valerie Garcia, 20, and Michael Cardona, 21, were killed in a shooting in the 900 block of E. 16th Street. According to police reports, Garcia was pregnant at the time of her death. Her unborn child was also killed.
“Are these two incidents related? Yes,” said Chamness, “but only in the fact that these two groups have been shooting at one another for several months now. That's the only connection between what happened Saturday and the shootings Sunday.”
Also injured in the Sunday shooting were an unidentified 3-year-old girl, 19-year-old Phiilp Martinez, 21-year-old Daniel Rios and 21-year-old David Rios. According to Sgt. Tony Everett, BSISD public information officer, the 3-year-old suffered a leg wound in the shooting and was treated at the emergency room at Scenic Mountain Medical Center and released. Daniel Rios was listed in fair condition at Covenant Medical Center in Lubbock earlier this week.
According to Chamness, the conflict between the Latin Kings and members of the Rios family has been ongoing for several months, contributing dozens of reports of deadly conduct/discharge of a firearm to the police activity log.
“This is all about drug territory,” said Chamness. “There's an ongoing dispute over drug territory between the Rios family and the Latin Kings. That's what's at the heart of these shootings.”
No arrests have been made in Sunday's shooting deaths, according to police officials. The investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information regarding these shootings is encouraged to contact the police department at 264-2550 or Crimestoppers at 263-TIPS (8477).
Contact Staff Writer Thomas Jenkins at 263-7331 ext. 232 or by e-mail at
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
