McAllen shooting hospitalizes three; suspect in custody

McALLEN - A man fired a sawed-off shotgun in a downtown bar early Wednesday morning, sending three people to the hospital.

McAllen Police say Elias De Leon fell into an altercation with another patron at Vaches Bar, 100 S. 20th St. early Wednesday morning.

After he was asked to leave the bar, De Leon, 21, of McAllen, returned with a sawed-off shotgun and began firing, hitting two men and one woman, McAllen Police Chief Victor Rodriguez said.

Police received the call of the shooting just before 2 a.m. Wednesday. But in the process of allegedly firing the illegally modified shotgun on the inside and outside of the bar, a crowd of people at the bar overtook De Leon and subdued him, Rodriguez said.

"He took a beating in the process," the police chief said of De Leon. "He is hospitalized for those injuries."

One of the men was seriously injured and remains in the hospital, Rodriguez said.

De Leon will likely face three charges of attempted murder for the shootings, Rodriguez said. He added that De Leon lwould not be arraigned until he is released from the hospital.