American Police Officer Arrested in Mexico, Accused of Killing Three in Border City
Marina Dunbar
A Texas police officer has been arrested in Mexico after allegedly killing three people and seriously wounding his child's mother in Saltillo, following a custody dispute. Chad Eberle was taken into custody at the U.S.-Mexico border and is charged with femicide and aggravated homicide.
A Texas police officer has been arrested in Mexico after allegedly killing three people and seriously wounding the mother of his child in an incident investigators believe stemmed from a custody dispute.
The Coahuila State Attorney General's Office said Chad Eberle, 35, was taken into custody Wednesday in the border area under an arrest warrant charging him with femicide and aggravated homicide. Under Mexican law, femicide is defined as the intentional killing of a woman or girl because of their gender.
The deadly shooting occurred in July in Saltillo, Mexico, following an argument over Eberle not being allowed to take his three-year-old son, according to La Razon. Two women and a man died in the attack.
The victims were identified as Ana Laura, 44; Laura Jaquelín, 22; and Emanuel, 44. The child's mother, 26, was also shot in the head and was in critical condition, according to officials.
Investigators said Eberle was arrested while trying to cross from Mexico into Texas via the international bridge at Piedras Negras, opposite Eagle Pass, Texas. Eberle had left with his son in a gray Chevrolet Silverado pickup, prompting a search as authorities tracked the vehicle toward the Texas border.
He was intercepted before he could re-enter the U.S. with the child. The three-year-old boy was uninjured and has been placed in the care of Coahuila state child protection services.
The San Antonio Express identified Eberle as a police officer in Santa Anna, central Texas. He previously served as a deputy sheriff in Bexar County—which includes San Antonio—and also as a police officer for the Northside Independent School District.
According to the Express, Eberle has served in law enforcement roles in other Texas communities including Somerset, Marble Falls, Gregory, Lockney, and Bangs. A 2022 Facebook post by the Lockney Police Department described Eberle as a former military service member.
In a social media post Thursday, Coahuila State Attorney General Federico Fernández said: "It is reported that at [9:59 p.m.] Chad 'N' was admitted to the Saltillo men's prison to serve an arrest warrant, where he has been placed at the disposal of the competent judicial authority, following the corresponding procedures."
He added: "Likewise, the child is now in the city of Saltillo, under the custody and care of the prosecutor's office for children, girls, and families (Pronnif), to ensure the full protection of their rights."
Texas outlet Coleman Today obtained a statement from the Santa Anna city administration describing Eberle as "one of our reserve police officers... who is currently on personal leave until December." The statement added: "The Santa Anna Police Department has been in contact with the U.S. Consulate in Mexico and the (Texas Commission on Law Enforcement)."
The statement also described Eberle as "a non-paid reserve officer, hired in November 2025, working one weekend per month" and concluded: "No further public comment will be made due to the ongoing investigation."
