Illegal Alien Charged in Brutal Sledgehammer Killing in Texas [WATCH]

A 19-year-old man charged in the killing of a co-worker at a home in the Spring area earlier this month was in the United States illegally, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

ICE officials said they lodged a detainer on Josue Abraham Chirino-Leonice at the Harris County Jail on April 13, one day after he was arrested by local authorities in Pasadena.

Deputies said Chirino-Leonice was found driving the victim’s vehicle at the time of his arrest.

A detainer allows immigration authorities to request that a suspect be held longer so federal agents can take custody.

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Chirino-Leonice is charged with murder in the death of Juan Antonio Salinas Leija, a carpenter who was discovered dead inside a home under renovation in the Northgate Crossing community.

The home is located on Goldensong Court, where authorities said the body was found the morning of April 13.

According to prosecutors, the attack is believed to have taken place on or about April 10.

Court documents state that investigators believe Chirino-Leonice beat Salinas with a sledgehammer inside the vacant residence, which was undergoing repairs after a prior fire.

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Family members told investigators they had not heard from Salinas since Friday afternoon.

Concerned about his whereabouts, relatives went to check on him Sunday morning and found him dead inside the home.

His sister contacted authorities, and deputies responded to the scene around 11:30 a.m.

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Investigators reported that Salinas sustained severe trauma to his upper torso as well as injuries to his head and neck.

Officials said an autopsy is expected to determine the exact cause of death.

Authorities also noted that Salinas’ truck was missing from the property.

The vehicle was later located in the Pasadena area.

Deputies said four individuals were inside the truck when it was found, including two adults and two juveniles.

The woman and the juveniles were later released.

Chirino-Leonice remained in custody and was subsequently charged with murder before being booked into the Harris County Jail.

Federal immigration officials said Chirino-Leonice had previously entered the United States illegally and had been encountered by U.S. Border Patrol in November 2023.

According to ICE, he was arrested at that time and later released.

Gabriel Martinez, acting field office director for ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Houston, addressed the case in a statement, saying the suspect should not have been allowed into the country.

“Our officers are working tirelessly to restore integrity to our nation’s immigration system to bring an end to the carnage and unnecessary suffering in this country that’s caused by criminal illegal aliens, and we won’t rest until we’ve accomplished that mission,” Martinez said.

The case remains under investigation as authorities continue to gather evidence and prepare for prosecution.

ICE officials have indicated they intend to take custody of Chirino-Leonice following the conclusion of local proceedings.

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