Police speak to ‘person of interest' in Weslaco homicide

WESLACO — A person of interest interviewed by investigators in connection with a slaying here Sunday has been ruled out as a possible suspect, officials said.

Investigators believed Hector Javier Sanchez, 30, of Mission, was an acquaintance of homicide victim Donna Lee Bocanegra, 26, who was shot to death Sunday.

But Sanchez has now been eliminated as a possible suspect in the case, said David Molina, a Weslaco police spokesman.
The shooting, which occurred about 1 p.m. and may have involved three attackers, also seriously injured Donna's mother, 65-year-old Manuela Bocanegra.

Officials could not immediately say what transpired during the conversation between Sanchez and investigators. They would not say why the man was wanted for questioning.

A motive for the shootings remains unclear.

Police said as many as three men entered the Bocanegra house at 1814 W. Sixth St. about 1 p.m. Sunday. Officers found no signs of forced entry into the home.

Investigators believe two or three Hispanic men were involved in the shootings and took off from the house in a maroon 2002 to 2004 Ford Mustang.

A passerby called 9-1-1 about 1:10 p.m. Sunday as Manuela Bocanegra lay in her driveway bleeding. Neighbors told police they had heard gunshots shortly before the woman made her way to the driveway. Emergency crews rushed both Bocanegras to area hospitals for treatment.

Donna Lee Bocanegra was pronounced dead at Knapp Medical Center in Weslaco later Sunday afternoon.