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Farmers Branch, Texas News

Three Suspects Arrested in Out-of-State Manhunt for Murder in Farmers Branch, Fourth Suspect Sought

Three of the four suspects wanted in connection with the murder of 33-year-old Nilzult Arneaud Petit in Farmers Branch, Texas, are now in custody, awaiting extradition on Capital Murder and Aggravated Kidnapping charges. The suspects — identified as Ehiker Alexander Morales Mendoza, 38, Carlos Luis Zambrano Bolivar, 25, and Jhonata Nahin Toro Gonzalez, 22 — were apprehended in separate out-of-state locations. A fourth suspect, Jhonny Jesus Martinez Serrano, 29, remains at large.

The Incident

In the early hours of August 24, 2024, Farmers Branch Police were alerted to a body lying in the roadway on the 1100 block of Valley View Lane by a passing motorist. Responding officers found Petit deceased with a gunshot wound to the head. Shortly afterward, Farmers Branch officers received information from Lewisville Police that two juveniles, who appeared to be related to Petit, had been located walking along the IH-35E service road near Corporate Drive. According to the investigation, the juveniles reported that they had been forcibly taken from an apartment complex on Fair Oaks Crossing in Dallas along with Petit around 12:30 a.m. that morning.

Witness statements and evidence revealed that Petit and the juveniles had been taken by a group of individuals in a light-colored four-door sedan. After the abduction, the suspects drove them to Farmers Branch, where Petit was executed, and the suspects then fled, later releasing the juveniles unharmed on the service road.

Background and Motive

According to investigators, Petit and the suspects had known associations tied to a complex ATM theft operation spanning several states. Detectives found that tensions arose within the group, allegedly related to Petit’s withholding of a share of the stolen money, leading to the fatal confrontation on August 24. Sources report that Petit was unwilling or unable to meet demands for payment, prompting the suspects to forcefully take him from the Dallas apartment complex. Detectives linked Petit and the suspects to the Venezuelan street gang Tren de Aragua, although officials do not believe the incident is connected to other cases in the area.

Suspects Identified and Arrested

Following the incident, detectives identified two suspects, Bolivar and Gonzalez, through surveillance footage and communications records. On September 26, Farmers Branch detectives traveled to Aurora, Colorado, where both men had been apprehended by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

During the investigation, detectives located one of Petit’s cell phones, which provided further leads. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) division traced a third suspect, Mendoza, who was believed to be the engineer behind the ATM theft ring. Mendoza was arrested on October 11 in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and is also awaiting extradition on Capital Murder and Aggravated Kidnapping charges in Dallas County.

Ongoing Search for Fourth Suspect

The fourth suspect, Jhonny Jesus Martinez Serrano, 29, has not yet been apprehended. Authorities are actively searching for Serrano, with officials advising the public not to approach him if spotted. Anyone with information on Serrano’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Farmers Branch Police Department at (972) 919-1406 or pdinfoandtips@farmersbranchtx.gov.

Collaborative Investigation and Assistance

This complex case has required coordinated efforts among numerous federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Farmers Branch Police have extended their gratitude to the Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Marshals Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and local agencies, including police departments from Dallas, Aurora (Colorado), Oklahoma City, Ohio, South Dakota, Wyoming, and multiple Texas counties. The involvement of law enforcement across several states was instrumental in identifying, tracking, and detaining the capital murder suspects.

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