North Texas kidnapping, murder linked to Venezuelan gang: children rescued

North Texas kidnapping, murder linked to gang

Three men with alleged ties to a Venezuelan gang have been arrested in multiple states for the kidnapping and murder of a North Texas man. The fourth suspect is still on the run.

North Texas – Three suspects have been arrested in the alleged kidnapping and murder of a North Texas man, Farmers Branch police say.

On August 24, 2024, Farmers Branch Police responded to a report of a body found on Valley View Lane in Irving.

The body was identified as 33-year-old Nilzult Petit, who suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the head.

Officers also discovered that two small children, believed to be Petit’s relatives, were found wandering along I-35E in Lewisville.

Investigators later learned that four Venezuelan gang members allegedly kidnapped Petit and two children and took them to an apartment in Farmers Branch.

The suspects fatally shot Petit and then drove the children to an access road along I-35, where they remained unharmed, police said.

Three of the four suspects were arrested and charged with capital murder and two counts of aggravated kidnapping. They are identified as 38-year-old Ehiker Alexander Morales Mendoza, 25-year-old Carlos Luis Zambrano Bolivar and 22-year-old Jonata Nahin Toro Gonzalez.

A fourth suspect, 29-year-old Johnny Jesus Martinez Serrano, remains at large.

Photos of men linked to North Texas kidnappings and murders

The investigation revealed that Petit was allegedly working with suspects in an ATM theft scheme. Without paying them as agreed, the men reportedly kidnapped Petit and two children from his apartment.

Two suspects, Bolivar and Gonzalez, were arrested by ICE in Aurora, Colorado, and Mendoza was found and arrested in New Mexico with the assistance of Department of Homeland Security and Homeland Security officials.

Officials confirmed that Petit and the suspects were affiliated with the Venezuelan street gang Tren de Aragua, although detectives believe this particular crime was not gang-related.

Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan organized crime gang, has been linked to several criminal activities in North Texas and throughout the country.

Investigators are asking anyone with information to contact the Farmers Branch Police Department at (972) 919-1406 or [email protected].