A reward is being offered for information that helps police locate 14-year-old capital murder suspect Abel Acosta, who is considered armed and dangerous and who has been on the run for more than a month.
According to Garland police, Acosta is wanted for shooting four teenagers on Dec. 26, 2021.
Garland Taqueria Shooting
Police said Acosta entered a convenience store in the 700 block of West Walnut Street just after 7:30 p.m. and shot four teenagers, killing three and injuring the fourth.
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Investigators do not know Acosta's whereabouts and need the public's help, police said. A $10,000 reward is being offered for information leading to Acosta's arrest.
Law enforcement officials rarely release the identity of juvenile suspects, but said due to "extenuating circumstances, the nature of the incident and the risk to the public the court has authorized the release of his information" so that he could be located.
Acosta is described by police as a light-skinned Hispanic male with dark hair, brown eyes, approximately 5 feet 5 inches tall, and weighing about 125 pounds.
According to police, Abel's father, Richard Acosta, was seen driving Abel to the convenience store that night and then leaving with him after the shooting.
Richard Acosta surrendered to police on Dec. 27 and was charged with capital murder for his involvement in the shooting. He is currently being held in the Dallas County Jail on a bond of $3,000,000.
An attorney representing Richard Acosta said his client said he didn't know his son had a gun and that he did nothing to solicit or encourage the violence.
Attorney Heath Harris said he thinks evidence will show that Acosta initially went into the store alone to pick up medicine for his wife and that after he got back into his pickup, his son said he needed something and went inside alone. Harris said the father heard gunfire but didn't know the source.
Harris said the son was hysterical when he ran back to the pickup and the father drove them home. The son then got into a car and fled, Harris said.
Police ask that anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Abel Acosta call Homicide Investigator Lucas Shupe at 972-485-4869. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Garland Crime Stoppers at 972-272-8477 or garlandcrimestoppers.org.
