Murder suspect in North Texas Chick-fil-A shooting targeted wife’s workplace, police say
The suspect in a shooting that killed two people Wednesday afternoon at a North Texas Chick-fil-A targeted the restaurant where his wife works, Irving police wrote in an arrest warrant affidavit.
Oved Bernardo Mendoza Argueta, 37, was arrested around 3 a.m. Thursday and faces a capital murder charge and an immigration hold by ICE, according to jail records.
The homicide occurred inside the Chick-fil-A in the 5300 block of North MacArthur Boulevard, in the Las Colinas area of Irving, police said.
According to Mendoza Argueta’s arrest warrant affidavit obtained by the Star-Telegram, the suspect entered the restaurant around 3:40 p.m. Wednesday. He was armed with a handgun, which he used to shoot and kill two people, the affidavit states.
Mendoza Argueta fled the scene after the shooting. His spouse, who is employed at the restaurant and witnessed the shooting, “identified the defendant with certainty,” the affidavit states.
The motive for the shooting is under investigation, but a police spokesperson said investigators believe the victims were targeted.
Both victims were employees of the fast-food restaurant. The Dallas County medical examiner identified the victims as Patricia Portillo, 49, and Brayan Alexis Godoy, 31.
Portillo’s friends set up a GoFundMe to help with her funeral expenses. Portillo, referred to as Patricia Chileno in the fundraiser, leaves behind a daughter, according to the GoFundMe.
A friend of Godoy’s also set up a GoFundMe to raise money to send his body to his home country of Guatemala to be buried.
In a statement, the local Chick-fil-A owner-operator said, “Our hearts are broken by the tragedy that unfolded inside our restaurant Wednesday. We will miss our two Team Members dearly. Right now, our focus is on providing care for our Team and the victims’ families. I want to thank the Irving Police Department for their professionalism and compassion. We will continue working closely with them as they conduct their investigation.”
Police released photos of Mendoza Argueta and his vehicle on Wednesday evening and asked the public to be on the lookout for him. Police had said residents should not attempt to apprehend him, but call 911 immediately if they knew his whereabouts.
Police asked residents to avoid the area during the investigation.
This story was originally published June 26, 2024 at 5:05 PM.
