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Witness Recounts the Andrews Shooting After a DPS Narcotics Investigation Goes Wrong
Witness Recounts the Andrews Shooting After a DPS Narcotics Investigation Goes Wrong 11/15/12
fbolton@cbs7.com
CBS 7 News Reporter
November 15, 2012
ANDREWS, TX – Bright orange spray paint marks the ground from a narcotics investigation gone wrong in the ALCO store parking lot in Andrews. Witnesses stated that multiple rounds of shots were fired.
"We heard a series of pops. Once I heard the first pop, I thought maybe it was a back fire. When they were coming in such a series … it was definitely a gun or more than one gun," said witness Kathy Rhodes.
Kathy Rhodes took cover inside her car, while her husband and several others kneeled behind the vehicle as bullets flew across the parking lot.
"I was actually inside of my vehicle, behind the steering wheel trying to talk with the dispatchers with 911 trying to explain with them that this peace officer needed back up. He needed help. There was a lot going on, a lot of gun shots being fired. He needed help at the scene,” said Rhodes.
DPS criminal investigations agents were conducting a narcotics investigation in Andrews at the ALCO store on the 1200 block of North Main at approximately 6:15 pm yesterday.
The officers identified themselves and attempted to arrest two suspects. The female suspect, 27 year old Ashley Grado of Artesia, New Mexico, fled the scene. When she allegedly attempted to hit officers with her vehicle, arresting officers fired shots. Grado was wounded, and then crashed a short time later. She is now in Medical Center Hospital and is in serious condition. Grado faces multiple charges and was in possession of a handgun.
Witness Kathy Rhodes stated that she didn’t see much during the shooting, but heard the entire shooting unfold. Rhodes even considered pulling out her own handgun for protection.
"You're anxious because you're in a situation where things are not necessarily in control but you just have to weigh it out and see how things will be weighed out. I mean you are there as a witness, but hopefully you will be spared the angst of having to defend yourself," said Rhodes.
A second suspect, 19-year-old Eric Carrasco of Midland, was arrested without incident. Carrasco is being held in the Andrews county jail for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and a felony drug charge related to methamphetamine recovered during the investigation.
We also received reports of another active crime scene at North 5th and I streets in Andrews. We believe these two crime scenes are related.
The troopers involved in the shooting
have been placed on suspension; which is normal procedure in a Texas Rangers’ investigation. Their names have not been released at this point.