An alleged human smuggler is recovering in a local hospital after shooting himself in the leg near Peñitas.
U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents filed human smuggling charges against Mario Leon-Villa on Tuesday.
The Mexican man has yet to appear before a federal judge is accused of being part of smuggling and extortion ring.
Court records show that four armed men hijacked a truck carrying 12 illegal immigrants near Peñitas on Monday.
The immigrants were taken to a nearby stash house where they were allegedly told their families would have to pay $2,000 dollars to get them any further north.
Six of the immigrants escaped through a window and went to a nearby store for help.
Court records show that Leon-Villa chased them with a gun and shot himself in the leg.
Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office deputies were able to locate one of the immigrants, who is now a witness in the case.
Leon-Villa has yet to appear in court but records show that he’s a 18-year-old Mexican national.
An alleged co-defendant Bermudez-Benito appeared before a federal judge in McAllen on Thursday.
Prosecutors have charged Bermudez-Benito with a federal firearms violation in relation to the case.
Details were not immediately available in that case.
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