El Paso man facing additional charges after police say he killed two of his neighbors

Update (August 7, 2024): Velazquez remains in jail on a $500,000 bond. He is scheduled to enter a plea on October 24, 2024. His jury trial is set to begin on December 2, 2024 at 9:00 AM.

Update: El Paso Police charged Velazquez with two additional counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and issued additional bond amounts of $100,000 for each charge.

The El Paso Police Department says that the El Paso District Attorney's office is working to enhance Velazquez's charge to Capital Murder.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA)-- Family members of the second Lower Valley shooting victim confirmed his death.

54-year-old Joseph Carter was injured following a shooting that broke out on the 7600 block of Parral Dr. in the Lower Valley.

Carter's family told ABC-7, he died Friday in the hospital after undergoing surgery.

62-year-old James Burton was also shot. He died the day of the shooting.

El Paso Police said back on Oct. 13, 68-year-old Mario Velazquez Lechuga shot at three of his neighbors, injuring two of them.

Officials revealed the suspect had ongoing issues with some of his neighbors.

Authorities said the morning of the shooting, Velazquez was working on his front yard when an argument broke out between his neighbors across the street. The argument then escalated to a shooting.

Police said Velasquez Lechuga exited his residence, walked towards Burton and Carter and shot them.

Both Burton and Carter were taken to local hospitals. Burton was pronounced dead.

EPPD previously told ABC-7, Carter had suffered non-life threatening injuries.

Velazquez was charged with one count of murder. ABC-7 reached out to investigators to learn if he will be facing another count of murder. ABC-7 still has not heard back.

One neighbor said Carter was nice, calm and would frequently stop and say hello.

Arturo Medina said he is still in disbelief another one neighbor has died. "It’s a shocker. It is. It hits home. It hits home definitely," Medina said.  

Neighbors said a void will be felt in the neighborhood.

"They were neighborhood friends. You see them grow up, but yes, they are going to be greatly missed. It’s hard. It’s hard," Medina said.