HCSO: Man Who Shot Deputy Is Illegal Immigrant

HOUSTON -- A man charged with shooting a deputy is in the United States illegally, officials told KPRC Local 2 Thursday.

Harris County sheriff's deputies said Oscar Perez, 25, shot Deputy Gerald Barnes outside the Safari Night Club in the 8800 block of East Mount Houston Road early Monday.

Investigators said Perez kidnapped Miguel Soto, who Perez thought stole his stereo. Barnes was shot when he intervened, investigators said. The deputy was wounded in the chest, above his bulletproof vest.

Perez fled the scene with Soto and later shot him in the abdomen, officials said. Soto was hospitalized in critical condition.

Detectives said Perez was arrested and charged with assault with a deadly weapon on a public servant.

Officials said they later learned that Perez is an illegal immigrant.

"INS has placed a detainer on him," Lt. John Martin said. "Apparently, he is in the country illegally."

Perez is in the Harris County Jail. His bond has not been set, but if bond is set and Perez is able to pay his way out, he will not get far.

"If he were to be released from our jail, of course ICE would be notified so that they could pick him up," Martin said.

Perez does not have a prior criminal record.

If convicted, Perez could face up to life in prison.

Perez is scheduled to make his first court appearance on Friday.

The arrest is more fuel for the ongoing debate over controlling illegal immigration.

"The last three police officers shot in Harris County have been shot by illegal immigrants. That tells us there's a problem -- a large number of them -- are with gangs like MS 13 and they are extremely violent," said Curtis Collier, the president of Border Watch.

Rick Dovalina, with the League of United Latin American Citizens, said he could not disagree more.

"The vast majority of immigrants are hardworking people," he said.

Dovalina admitted that some criminals are likely to be among the millions, but insists that's more reason to pass a comprehensive immigration bill soon.

"Hopefully, get all these people into this system -- get criminal background checks done so we can get rid of the ones that have a criminal history," Dovalina said.

Harris County only recently began trying to track the number of undocumented prisoners coming into jail.

Since last September, more than 3,500 inmates booked into the jail admitted being in the country illegally. That's about 4 percent of the total county jail inmate population.