Gabriel Bernal, a 33-year-old Hispanic male, tragically lost his life on May 30, 2017, in Greenville, Texas. Bernal, along with 54-year-old Fidel Garcia, was involved in a deadly shootout at a car dealership while attempting to apprehend Ramon Michael Hutchinson, a fugitive wanted in Minnesota. The incident occurred when Bernal and Garcia, both private investigators from Corpus Christi, approached Hutchinson with guns drawn.
Hutchinson, who was seated in an office inside the dealership, attempted to pull a pistol from his waistband but dropped it on a desk. A scuffle ensued as Hutchinson tried to retrieve his weapon, leading to a gun battle that resulted in all three men suffering multiple gunshot wounds and dying at the scene.
The shootout, which lasted only six seconds, involved approximately 20 shots being fired. Cellphone video captured the moments leading up to the confrontation, showing Bernal and Garcia approaching Hutchinson with guns drawn. The video also recorded the sounds of gunfire and screaming as the person recording the video turned and ran for cover. Greenville police released the video and 911 calls placed during the shooting, including one from a woman hiding in the bathroom, pleading for police to hurry.
The investigation revealed that Bernal and Garcia had been waiting for nearly four hours for Hutchinson to arrive at the dealership. Hutchinson, who had an outstanding warrant for failure to appear on a first-degree drug charge in Minneapolis, was considered one of the most dangerous fugitives in the U.S. Bernal and Garcia had tracked Hutchinson to Greenville using a tracking device placed on his car. They had hoped to apprehend him when he arrived at the dealership with his girlfriend, who was looking to trade in her car.
The incident raised questions about the actions of Bernal and Garcia, who were hired bounty hunters. In Texas, bounty hunters have the authority to make arrests but cannot pretend to be law enforcement officers. The owner of the dealership stated that Bernal and Garcia had identified themselves as federal agents to the general manager and a receptionist, which may have contributed to the confusion and chaos during the confrontation. The tragic event left three families mourning the loss of their loved ones and highlighted the dangers faced by private investigators and bounty hunters in their line of work.
