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Judge denies bond for teen from El Salvador charged in two fatal Houston shootings

Jefferson Velasquez is accused of shooting two people at large gatherings about eight months apart

Jefferson Velasquez, 18, appeared in court alongside his appointed defense attorney on Monday morning when Judge Hazel Jones denied bond. (KPRC)

HOUSTON – Jefferson Velasquez, the 18-year-old from El Salvador charged in two separate Houston murder cases, has been denied bond.

Judge Hazel Jones heard testimony from investigators Monday morning and ruled to continue holding Velasquez without bond. Her decision comes after his cases gained attention from the Department of Homeland Security.

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Velasquez is accused of fatally shooting Angel Garcia, 17, at an east Harris County house party last summer and Noah Ramirez, 27, outside of Diosa nightclub in Midtown in April.

At the scene of the April shooting, Velasquez was detained and gave a wrong name then got released, his defense attorney said. He didn’t get charged in last summer’s shooting until June and charges for the April shooting came in July.

Velasquez entered the U.S. illegally through Texas as a minor in 2014, according to DHS.

Records show ICE has lodged a detainer, meaning if Velasquez were to post bond, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office would contact immigration authorities before his release.