Man fires weapon during hallucination

Ferris—Officers with the Ferris Department of Public Safety and the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call placed by a male subject on Mar. 23 at 2:40 a.m. The man claimed people were trying to kill him and that his entire family had been murdered. Upon arrival at a residence in the 800 block of East 8th Street, officers discovered that the caller, identified as Homero Salinas (47), was the source of the threat.

Salinas, who resides in a rear dwelling on the same property as his family, fired approximately 30 rounds, including multiple shots into the front residence where his family lives. 

Under the influence of alcohol and cocaine, Salinas was experiencing hallucinations and acted on the belief that he was under attack and that his family had been killed. His family, unaware that he was the one discharged the weapon, was found hiding on the floor inside their home, unharmed. 

All family members were found safe, and damage was limited to the family’s property.

After the shooting, Salinas left the property and walked down East 8th Street. He claimed to be wearing a ballistic vest, though it was later confirmed that he was not.
 Responding agencies, including the Ferris Department of Public Safety, Ellis County Sheriff’s Office, and Wilmer Police Department, made contact with Salinas, who was taken into custody without further incident. Multiple firearms and ammunition were recovered. 

Through fingerprint identification, AFIS confirmed that Salinas is a citizen of Mexico and does not possess lawful immigration status in the United States. Further investigation revealed that Salinas had previously been handled by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), specifically U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), in 2013, at which time a detainer had been placed on him.

 “The fact that no lives were lost in this incident is a testament to the skill and discipline of our first responders,” Brooks Williams, city manager, said. “We cannot ignore what this situation reveals, someone without legal status, previously flagged by ICE, was still here and still able to access deadly weapons. That’s not just a local issue, it’s a systemic failure. All the officers and deputies acted with courage and clarity, preventing what could have become a tragedy involving innocent lives.”

John DeLeon, deputy city manager for Public Safety, echoed Williams’ concern.

“We are a nation of laws. When someone who has already had a detainer placed by ICE is able to remain in the country, acquire firearms, and walk freely into a neighborhood with a gun, that’s a failure of enforcement,” DeLeon said.

SOURCE City of Ferris Exchange Server