UPDATE (6/22/2023, 6:30 p.m.):
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials arrested a Rockport man on Thursday for his connection to the death of a man from a fatal dog attack on June 20.
According to a release, a 33-year-old man was coming back from Mexico over the Hidalgo International Bridge when a CBP official recognized him from an arrest warrant and pulled him over.
CBP officials confirmed his identity as Mario Alberto Mendoza Pena with an active Aransas County Sheriff’s Office arrest warrant. Officials said the warrant was connected to the death of a Rockport man from a dog attack.
Pena has been charged with Attack by Dog, Involving Death. He is now being held at the Hidalgo County Jail before he is transported to Aransas County.
UPDATE (7:30 p.m.):
Aransas County Sheriff's Office officials have identified 40-year-old Lewis Flores as the man who was killed in the dog attack on Tuesday morning.
Officials added that they were on Monkey Road when they discovered Flores being attacked.
"When the Deputy approached, they turned their aggression to the officer who fired and believes he struck one of the dogs," a release from the ACSO states. "All the animals fled the location, and officers began CPR in an effort to revive him. EMS made the location and took over the medical attention for the victim."
The release states that animal control took some of the animals in that location. Officials added the animal that officials believe was shot has not been found.
The Aransas County Sheriff’s Office has arrested two individuals in connection with the dog attack that claimed the life of Lewis Flores on June 20, 2023
Warrants were obtained in the office of J.P. II Diane McGinnis for Guadalupe Carreon and Mario Alberto Mendoza Pena, both of Aransas County. 33-year-old Guadalupe Carreon is in custody at the Aransas County Detention Center charged with Attack By Dog Resulting In Death. Their bond has not been set.
"Anyone with information is asked to call 361-729-2222 and asked to speak to an investigator. Also, if residents in the area of Corpus Christi Street and Monkey Road see two dogs roaming the area, light tan in color and one, a mixed breed darker color, please call the Dispatch Center so Deputies can attempt to catch them with Animal Control," Sheriff Bill Mills stated in a release.
ORIGINAL:
Aransas County Sheriff's Department officials said that a Coastal Bend man was attacked early Tuesday morning by a pack of dogs and later died from his injuries.
According to Aransas County Sheriff Bill Mills, police were called to the 1000 block of S. San Antonio Street in Rockport just after 5:01 a.m. on Tuesday, June 20.
When officers arrived, they discovered an unknown man with severe injuries.
Mills said at least three dogs attacked the victim, but he was not able to confirm the exact number of dogs in the pack.
"We have identified who we believe the owner is. The investigation is still premature," Mills said.
Officials said the Aransas County Sheriff's Office is investigating this attack, but no other information was released.
This is a developing story; check back with KRIS 6 News for more updates.
