On November 24, 2023, at approximately 9:00 p.m., El Paso County Sheriff's Deputies responded to reports of gunfire in the Red Sands area of far east El Paso, Texas. Upon arrival, they discovered that 18-year-old Mauricio Elias had been shot. He was transported to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at 10:45 p.m. Two additional 18-year-old male victims sustained non-life-threatening gunshot wounds and were treated at local medical facilities.
Following a comprehensive investigation by the El Paso County Sheriff's Office Major Crimes Unit, 19-year-old Angel Gallardo of the Horizon City area was identified as a suspect in the shooting. On April 6, 2024, authorities located and arrested Gallardo, charging him with murder. He was subsequently booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility with a bond set at $1 million.
The tragic incident at Red Sands, a popular desert off-roading site, has heightened community concerns regarding safety in the area. The El Paso County Sheriff's Office continues to urge anyone with additional information about the case to come forward. In the wake of the arrest, the community remains vigilant, seeking justice for Elias and striving to prevent such violence in the future.
