A Texas police officer is accused of fatally shooting three people and critically wounding his ex-partner in Saltillo, Mexico, during a dispute over custody of his 3-year-old son. Chad Eberle, a reserve officer with the Santa Anna Police Department, was apprehended by Mexican authorities on August 4 as he attempted to cross back into the United States at the Eagle Pass border crossing.
Mexican officials have issued an arrest warrant for Eberle, 35, for his alleged involvement in femicide and aggravated homicide. According to reports, the shooting occurred after Eberle was denied custody of his son. The victims, two 44-year-olds (one female, one male) and a 22-year-old female, have not had their relationships with Eberle publicly detailed by officials. Eberle is also accused of shooting the 26-year-old mother of his child in the head during the incident, leaving her in critical condition before he fled with their son.
Eberle was taken to the Saltillo Men’s Penitentiary Center, and his son was placed in the care of the Office of the Attorney for Children, Girls and the Family in Saltillo. A statement from the City of Santa Anna indicated that Eberle was on a personal leave of absence at the time of the incident and that the city would not comment further due to the ongoing investigation.
Eberle has a history of service with several law enforcement agencies in Texas, including the Bexar County Constable Precinct 2, and the police departments in Bangs, Lockney, Northside ISD, and Somerset. He had been employed as a volunteer reserve officer with the Santa Anna Police Department since November 2025, working one weekend shift per month.