Amber Alert suspect in custody, allegedly exchanged gunfire with child’s uncle

The man suspected in Sunday’s Amber Alert fired rounds from a shotgun at the home of his child’s mother, police said.

The shooting happened at 3:00 pm at 10259 Saigon in East El Paso.

Police charged Julian Michael Maese, 26, with Deadly Conduct and jailed him on a $20,000 bond.

Police issued an Amber Alert for the one-year-old child, allegedly taken by Maese, his father, during a violent confrontation. Police said Maese arrived at the mother’s residence to take custody of the child.

Maese fired rounds from a shotgun at the residence following an argument, police said. Maese then placed the child into a vehicle driven by 33-year-old Jesus Elias Vargas.

The child’s uncle, 24-year-old Daniel Campos, exited the residence and allegedly fired rounds from his own shotgun at the vehicle, police said.

Vargas, who collapsed after being struck by the rounds allegedly fired by Campos, was rushed to a nearby hospital with non-life threatening injuries, police said.

Police said Maese was able to drive away with the child while Campos continued firing at the fleeing vehicle. The vehicle was later found abandoned, but Maese and the child were missing.

The child was located at a Lower Valley residence shortly after the Amber Alert was issued. The Gang Unit located Maese early Monday morning at the 8200 block of Alameda.

Officers arrested Campos and charged him with Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon. Campos was jailed on bonds totaling $25,525.