WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) — Jose Garcia-Damasio, 18, and Valerio Garcia-Hernandez, 44, both residents of Wichita Falls, are in police custody after being charged in a New Year’s Day burglary that left a 72-year-old man injured. The two suspects were arrested following an attempted home burglary on January 1, 2025.
Burglary Attempt Turns Violent
At around 9:45 p.m. on Wednesday, January 1, 2025, officers from the Wichita Falls Police Department (WFPD) responded to a burglary call at a residence located in the 500 block of North Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
According to police affidavits, the victim, a 72-year-old man, reported that the suspects were banging on his front door using an object. When the elderly man opened the door to investigate, the suspects forced their way inside, pushing him to the ground.
The victim told authorities that one of the suspects struck him in the right shoulder with a metal pipe, causing him to sustain an injury to his left hand in the process. The officer who arrived at the scene observed that the victim’s hand was bleeding from the injury.
Suspects Charged with Felony Burglary
Both Garcia-Damasio and Garcia-Hernandez were arrested and taken into custody on charges of burglary of a habitation with intent to commit another felony. Each suspect is being held on a $100,000 bond at the Wichita County Jail.
Witnesses who were near the scene reported hearing the banging noise from the metal pipe but did not witness the actual assault on the victim.
Sgt. Brett Keith, the Public Information Officer with the WFPD, confirmed that the weapon used to strike the victim was indeed a metal pipe.
Ongoing Investigation
The incident remains under investigation by the WFPD. Authorities are continuing to gather details on the suspects’ motives and any prior history related to the crime.
Residents of Wichita Falls are urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the local police.
