Murder of Javier Vega, Jr.

Javier Vega Jr. (June 17, 1978 – August 3, 2014) was an agent of the United States Border Patrol who was shot dead by Gustavo Tijerina Sandoval, an undocumented immigrant from Mexico, near Santa Monica, Texas, on August 3, 2014. His killer was sentenced to the death penalty, and Vega was honored as the namesake of a street in La Feria, Texas, and a Border Patrol checkpoint in Sarita, Texas.

Early life Vega was born on June 17, 1978, in La Feria, Cameron County, Texas. Prior to joining the Border Patrol, Vega had served in the United States Marine Corps. He was married, and he had three children.

Vega served in the Border Patrol from February 11, 2008, to August 3, 2014. Vega's father shot back at the two men's car, who continued to drive for a few miles until their car broke down.

Tijerina Sandoval and another Mexican illegal immigrant, Ismael Hernandez Vallejo, who was with him at the time, were arrested the next day.

The two Mexican men were given jury trials. Gustavo Tijerina Sandoval was sentenced to death on June 5, 2018, Tijerina-Sandoval was sentenced to death under Texas state law, and accordingly men sentenced to death under Texas state law are sent to the Allan B. Polunsky Unit.

Legacy On December 16, 2017, a street was renamed in his honor in La Feria, Texas.

On March 20, 2019, the Border Patrol checkpoint in Sarita, Texas, was renamed in his memory. The dedication was attended by Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz.