A man reportedly kidnapped outside a restaurant on Brownsville's westside has been found dead in his own vehicle near Rancho Viejo.
It all started in the parking lot of the Mariscos Playa Azul seafood restaurant off Military Highway in Brownsville around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Armed men reportedly stormed the restaurant, threatened customers and destroyed surveillance cameras.
Kidnapping & Murder
Investigators told Action 4 News that 22-year-old Reyes Bocanegra was kidnapped and taken away inside his own SUV.
Witnesses at the restaurant told police that they heard the gunmen say that they were headed to Reynosa.
Border Patrol agents found the SUV with Bocanegra's body inside just about 12 miles away from the restaurant off Roberta Road around 1 p.m. Wednesday.
Brownsville police confirmed that Bocanegra's body was found in the backseat of his SUV.
Drug-Related
Brownsville Interim Police Chief Orlando Rodriguez said police Bocanegra had a criminal history that involved drugs.
Interim Chief Rodriguez told Action 4 news that investigators believe that Bocanegra's kidnapping and murder are drug-related.
Investigators are working to identify the suspects but Rodriguez said police are not ready to label the incident as "drug cartel-related."
Rodriguez said the kidnapping and murder was targeted and very specific to Bocanegra.
The interim chief said Brownsville residents do not have to be afraid drug-related violence if they are not involved in illegal activity.
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