Four teenagers from Texas are accused of kidnapping and torturing a former classmate at gunpoint after a dispute regarding one of the suspects’ girlfriends.
Jose Rojas Alvarado, Oscar Armando Santiago Martinez, Angel Lemus Perez, and Carlos Roberto Oliva Villeda, all 17, were charged with aggravated kidnapping involving a deadly weapon in February for allegedly targeting fellow students from Del Valle High School.
The victim reportedly left a school roughly 25 miles from downtown Austin with three of the suspects on February 19. They reportedly led him to a nearby farm, where the fourth suspect was waiting.
According to investigators, the four suspects, described as former students, entered the building and pointed guns at the victim’s head. They restrained him with duct tape, binding his hands, feet, and mouth.
The suspects then allegedly made the victim consume alcohol and beat him using an aluminum bat, a cane, and a belt.
During the ordeal, they allegedly threatened to kill him and harm his family if he contacted the police.
Once released, the victim immediately reported the incident to the authorities, stating he had been assaulted and held against his will for speaking to one of the suspect’s girlfriends.
Investigators noted that the victim’s injuries corresponded with their descriptions of the attack, revealing severe bruises on his back, chest, and legs.
Some suspects reportedly confessed to planning the attack days in advance, and one even recorded parts of it on his cell phone.
If convicted, the four teenagers could face prison sentences ranging from five to 99 years.
Additionally, court records indicate one suspect, Remus Perez, faces extra charges related to organized criminal activity.
The Del Valle Independent School District confirmed that none of the suspects are currently enrolled, while expressing awareness of reports concerning this off-campus incident.
Student reactions were mixed, with one expressing disbelief, saying, “I thought it was insane, especially for our school.” Another student noted the fear stemming from the event, stating, “Everyone’s pretty scared… Everyone’s thinking, ‘Oh my God, I can’t believe this is happening.'”
The district added, “This incident is being actively investigated by the Travis County Sheriff’s Office. The district has no further information at this time.” They emphasized that the safety of students and staff remains a top priority.
