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Friday, Jul. 10, 1998
Officers attend killer's funeral
Man's survivors include father, brother who are Valley police officers
Associated Press
SAN BENITO - Police officers were among some 100 mourners who gathered Thursday for the funeral of a fellow officer's son, slain after killing two Border Patrol agents.
``It was an uncomfortable situation because there were law enforcement officers on both sides of the situation,'' said San Benito Police Chief Richard Clark, who attended the graveside service at Mont Meta Memorial Park.
Mourners, some of whom wore their police uniforms, were asked to have compassion and understanding for Ernest Moore's family during the brief service. Moore, who killed two women in addition to the border agents, was the son of Harlingen police Officer R.D. Moore and brother of San Benito Officer Larry Moore.
``It's the family that's still here that needs compassion and understanding,'' Clark said. ``They had no control over what happened. They're also victims.''
Funeral services for Border Patrol agents Susan Rodriguez and Ricardo Salinas were set for today in Harlingen and San Antonio, respectively. Attorney General Janet Reno and INS Commissioner Doris Meissner were expected to attend both.
Services also were scheduled today for Margarita Flores and her daughter Delia Morin, who were killed at their Rio Hondo home by Moore Tuesday morning.
Moore, 25, was being sought as a suspect in the Rio Hondo deaths when officers tracked him to his parents' home near San Benito. Officers at the scene said Moore ambushed them from a nearby cornfield, spraying the group with bullets from an assault rifle.
Cameron County Sheriff's Deputy Raul Rodriguez, who was injured in the ambush, remained in stable condition at Valley Baptist Medical Center Thursday. Dan Morin, who was injured in the Rio Hondo attack, remained in critical condition.
Moore apparently was looking for his ex-girlfriend, who was a guest at the house and had started a new relationship with Dan Morin. Daniel Morin, Dan's brother, told the (Harlingen) Valley Morning Star and The Dallas Morning News that it appeared Moore premeditated the attack.
``It was a planned situation,'' Morin said. ``He knew which way to get in the house. He knew what he was doing from the time he got into the place to the time he left.''
The Valley Morning Star cited an unnamed source close to the investigation who said postmortem tests found cocaine, marijuana and alcohol in Moore's body.
Rio Hondo Police Chief Carlos Gonzalez said Thursday he did not expect official toxicology results until next week.Post your comments about Texas newsFront Page || Main Index || News || Business || Texas || South Texas Outdoors || Birdwatching || Sports || Entertainment || Selena || Education || South Texas Attractions || World Wide Web