Brownsville, Texas — Authorities have released the name of the man who died in a shooting outside the Brownsville Police Department on Monday afternoon.
Police say Ernesto Martinez Tagal, 38, was the suspected gunman who opened fire in the station’s front parking lot before turning the weapon on himself.
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The incident happened around 1:08 p.m., when a woman arrived at the station with another man to file a report against a suspect. As the pair stood outside, Tagal — waiting in an unknown vehicle — began shooting toward them, police said. He then fatally shot himself.
No other injuries were reported.
Police Chief Felix Sauceda confirmed that the violence stemmed from a domestic dispute.
“Unfortunately, any time it involves emotions, relationships, domestic violence, and things of that sort, it does have a propensity for escalation, and unfortunately, this can at times be the ultimate consequence,” Sauceda said.
The main entrance to the station was briefly closed while officers secured the scene. Sauceda stressed that the event was isolated and handled quickly.
“We took all the necessary emergency protocols … and we want our community to continue to feel safe. This was an isolated incident and one that we brought under control in a very immediate fashion,” he noted.
Detectives continue investigating to clarify the relationships between Tagal, the woman, and the man who accompanied her.