A Texas police officer is accused of killing three people and critically injuring his former partner in Mexico during an apparent custody dispute, before authorities say he tried to return to the United States with his 3-year-old son.
Chad Eberle, a reserve officer with the Santa Anna Police Department, allegedly opened fire Aug. 4 at a home in Saltillo, Coahuila, after being denied custody of the child, Mexican newspaper La Razón reported.
The shooting left three people dead: a 44-year-old woman, a 44-year-old man and a 22-year-old woman, according to the report. Authorities have not publicly detailed how the victims were connected to Eberle.
Eberle, 35, is also accused of shooting the child’s 26-year-old mother in the head, leaving her in critical condition, before fleeing the residence with the boy, the outlet reported.
Mexican authorities later detained Eberle at International Bridge II in Piedras Negras as he allegedly attempted to cross into Eagle Pass, Texas, in a Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck.
The Coahuila State Attorney General’s Office said Wednesday that an arrest warrant had been issued for Eberle over his alleged role in crimes classified as femicide and aggravated homicide.
Authorities in Mexico identified the suspect as Chad “N” and transported him back to Saltillo, about 55 miles southwest of Monterrey. He was booked Thursday night into the Saltillo Men’s Penitentiary Center.
The toddler was also returned to Saltillo and placed under the care of the Office of the Attorney for Children, Girls and the Family.
“The protection of children is a priority, therefore the child has been accompanied from the beginning and will be transferred in the company of said Institution and a family member to this capital city of Saltillo,” officials said.
Eberle, who previously served in the US Army, has held positions with several police departments.
He is a former deputy constable with the Bexar County Constable Precinct 2, a position he held from 2019 to 2020, and had stints with the Bangs, Lockney, Northside ISD and Somerset Police Departments, according to KTXS.
At the time of his arrest, Eberle was a volunteer reserve officer with the Santa Anna Police Department, having been hired in November 2025 and working 1 weekend shift a month.
“The City of Santa Anna has been made aware of a situation out of Mexico concerning one of our Reserve Officers, Chad Eberle, that was on a personal leave of absence until December,” the city said in a statement obtained by local paper Coleman Today.
“Due to the ongoing investigation, no other public comment will be made,” the statement said.
