Kamal Ghorui
Four Texas teenagers have been arrested for allegedly kidnapping and torturing a former high school classmate over a dispute involving one of the suspects’ girlfriends.Jose Rojas-Alvarado, Oscar Armando Santiago-Martinez, Angel Lemus-Perez, and Carlos Roberto Oliva-Villeda, all 17, face charges of aggravated kidnapping with a deadly weapon, according to arrest affidavits from the Travis County Sheriff’s Office obtained by KEYE.The victim is a former student at Del Valle High School. He was reportedly lured into a car on February 19. He was driven to a nearby farm, where the fourth suspect waited in a garage. Investigators allege the suspects held a gun to the victim’s head while binding his hands, feet, and mouth with duct tape.The teenagers then allegedly forced the victim to drink alcohol and beat him with aluminium bats, a walking cane, and a belt. During the attack, the suspects threatened to kill him and harm his family if he went to the police.After being released, the victim immediately reported the assault to authorities. Police confirmed his injuries matched his account, with extensive bruising across his back, chest, and legs. Some suspects admitted to planning the attack for days, and one allegedly recorded the entire ordeal on a phone.Angel Lemus-Perez faces an additional charge of engaging in organised criminal activity. If convicted, the teens could face sentences ranging from five to 99 years in prison.The violent incident has left students and the local community deeply shaken. J’Kaideon Mitchell, a Del Valle student, told KEYE, “I thought it was insane, especially at our school. It’s just crazy how strong that person would have to be to report it and just stay alive, honestly.” He added, “Everyone’s pretty spooked… Everyone’s been like, ‘Oh my God, I can’t believe this is happening.’”The Del Valle Independent School District said the suspects are no longer enrolled and confirmed it is aware of the off-campus incident.
