Officials: El Paso man threatened to commit robbery, murder over unemployment claim dispute

EL PASO, Texas – A man arrested on I-10 Wednesday had threatened to commit murder and robbery after failing to get unemployment benefits, according to documents obtained by ABC-7.

Cesar Omar Hita, 47, was arrested after Texas Department of Public Safety Special Agents, Highway Patrol, and Homeland Security Investigations worked together to stop him in his vehicle on I-10.

Hita had a loaded pistol in his vehicle at the time, according to officials.

According to a complaint affidavit, Hita called the Texas Workforce Commission in Austin at 10:11 a.m. on June 1 to get help obtaining unemployment insurance.

The documents state that TWC could not help Hita with the unemployment claim.

That's when investigators say Hita began to threaten he would rob convenience stores and kill people.

The documents state that Hita admitted he had already been stealing from local Walmarts and other stores and returning the items for store credit.

Before his call ended with the TWC, investigators say Hita asked for the employee's name, then said, "Thank you, I really don't want to hurt people."