Twice-Deported Mexican National Fires 31 Rounds at Texas Neighbors

SWAT Standoff Ends Violent Memorial Day Weekend

Juan Ayala Montero, a 60-year-old Mexican national, was arrested May 24 in Montgomery County and charged with felony deadly conduct involving the discharge of a firearm . Investigators recovered approximately 31 shell casings from the scene and said evidence showed multiple rounds were fired toward homes and residents . Investigators later determined only one person, a 17-year-old male, had been struck by gunfire. The teenager was treated and released from a local hospital .

According to the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, Ayala was armed with a long gun and actively firing rounds at multiple people in the Kings Colony neighborhood when deputies responded to the scene. When a large law enforcement presence arrived, Ayala retreated into his home and barricaded himself inside . The standoff ended after the arrival of the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office SWAT team, at which point Ayala surrendered and was taken into custody without further incident .

Witnesses told investigators they attempted to de-escalate the situation and convince Ayala to put down the weapon, but he continued firing . Authorities said the shooting stemmed from an altercation between Ayala and the teenager .

Criminal History Spans Decades

Ayala, who has been deported from the United States twice and has a lengthy criminal history, illegally reentered the country multiple times . While in the U.S. illegally, Ayala has been convicted of attempted homicide and criminal trespass . His criminal history includes convictions for homicide, assault, driving under the influence of liquor, and trespassing, and an arrest for aggravated assault with a gun .

Ayala was ordered removed by an immigration judge August 31, 1999, and removed Aug. 30, 2000. He illegally reentered the U.S. and was encountered again by immigration officials on Jan. 4, 2006, when he was arrested by the Dallas Police Department for a local disturbance. He was transferred into ICE custody and deported to Mexico that same day .

Authorities allege Ayala illegally entered the U.S. for a third time on an unknown date before his most recent arrest . Due to having previously been deported, Ayala-Montero now faces federal charges of being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm .

Immigration Enforcement Program Proves Critical

Ayala may not have been caught if not for the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office's participation in ICE's 287(g) program . Following his arrest on May 24, a designated immigration officer from the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office was able to quickly confirm his immigration status and lodge an immigration detainer to ensure he wasn't released back into the community if he's granted bond .

Montgomery County jail records show Ayala is being held on an $80,000 bond on the deadly conduct charge. The records also show an ICE hold and federal detainer have been lodged against him . ICE is asking officials in Montgomery County, Texas to not release this dangerous criminal .

This case highlights the ongoing challenges in border security and the consequences of repeat illegal entry. The 287(g) program allows local law enforcement to identify immigration violations during routine arrests, potentially preventing dangerous individuals from disappearing back into communities. While immigration debates continue at the national level, local residents in Montgomery County witnessed firsthand how previous deportations failed to prevent this violent confrontation that could have resulted in multiple fatalities.