PORT ARTHUR, Texas — A preliminary autopsy report has revealed the cause of death of a woman fatally shot early Monday morning in Port Arthur.
Alondra Navarro Trejo, 22, was found fatally shot early Monday morning in the Griffing Park neighborhood according to the Port Arthur Police Department,
YOU CAN HELP | GoFundMe for the Navarro Trejo family
Justice of the Peace Brad Burnett ordered the autopsy. He says the preliminary report from the Jefferson County Morgue reveals Alondra died due to a penetrating gunshot wound to the head.
Preliminary manor of death is still pending. Judge Burnett said he asked the morgue if it was a close gunshot, and they said it did not appear to be because there was no powder on her.
Police believe that she was fatally shot by Alejo Mendoza Chavez who is wanted on a murder warrant that was issued on Monday.
Port Arthur Police Chief Tim Duriso tells 12News the U.S. Marshals have been brought in to help find Mendoza Chavez.
Justice of the Peace Ben Collins signed the murder warrant on the suspect and set his bond at $975,000. He is currently at large and considered armed and dangerous, according to Collins.
Family says Alondra had just moved to Port Arthur from Mexico a few days prior to her death.
"We're all very sad, and heartbroken. she was a person who didn't bother or mess with anyone. She had a big heart, she was sweet, everything you could imagine a good person being, that was her," they said.
She was trying to start a better life in the U.S, according to her family.
"She was happy, she sang, danced. She never cared what others thought about her. She was never worried about what other people would say," they said.
12News is protecting the identity of the Navarro Trejo family because Alondra's accused killer remains on the run.
They say the suspect, Mendoza Chavez, had a violent past.
"She did not deserve this. If there was a problem, she would have fixed it. He did not have to take it out on someone who had no fault," the family said. "He didn't know her, he only knew her through the telephone. He had no right to take her life."
Chief Duriso says a photo circulating on social media of Mendoza Chavez may not actually be him.
The Navarro Trejo family is heartbroken and says Alondra, the youngest of seven sisters, was the life of the party and loved to sing and dance.
They say Alondra's memory will live on, but the pain of losing her will never go away.
"We want justice. We don't want this assassination or murder to go unpunished. He had no right, none of us have a right to take someone's life, especially in the way he did. And if law enforcement is good in the U.S, they should be able to capture him. Let them get justice for Alondra," they said.
Port Arthur officers were sent to a reported shooting in the 4600 block of Alamosa St. at about 1:36 a.m. Monday police said in a news release.
When they got there, officers found the body of Alondra.
While investigating officers and detectives identified Mendoza Chavez as the suspect in her death.
Port Arthur officers along with officers from the Groves Police Department and deputies with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office searched for Mendoza Chavez but he has not been found.
This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.
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From the original Port Arthur Police Department news release...
On 09/05/2022 at approximately 1:36 a.m., Port Arthur Police Department was dispatched to a shooting at 4649 Alamosa Street.
Upon officers arrival, it was discovered that a female victim had been mortally wounded from the shooting.
During the course of the investigation patrol along with detectives, developed a suspect identified as Alejo Mendoza Chavez.
An intense search was done to locate Chavez by Port Arthur Police Department, Groves Police Department and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.
Unfortunately, Chavez was not able to be located. Chavez has a murder warrant for his arrest and currently still is at large.