2 people arrested in Brownsville murder investigation

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Two men were arrested in Brownsville after police served a search warrant as part of a homicide investigation.

Alejandro Alvarado, 35, was arrested on charges of murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, deadly conduct and discharge of a firearm, according to jail records.

On May 18 at 2:29 a.m., Brownsville police responded to the 100 block of Blanche Street. When they arrived, they found Armando Rivera, 25, dead with a gunshot wound to the head in the passenger seat of a vehicle.

A preliminary investigation showed that Rivera and another man were shot by Alvarado as they crossed Calle Galaxia. Police say that's when Rivera was struck.

The driver drove Rivera to White Street, where he left the vehicle and notified his family, who then contacted authorities.

Police added that a second man, Luciano Cesar Avina, 33, shot Rivera in an earlier incident as they arrived at the 1100 block of Calle Terrestre, where Rivera lived. Avina fled the scene and no injuries were reported in the incident, police said.

On May 24, Brownville police, with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals, initiated a search and arrest warrant on the 1100 block of Calle Galaxia. There, Alvarado was arrested in connection with Rivera's death.

Avina, who lived in the same residence, was also taken into custody while the arrest warrant was executed. He faces two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, one count of deadly conduct and one count of discharging a firearm.

Alvarado's bail was set at $355,000 and Avina's bail was set at $205,000.