McAllen, Texas public officials appeared to be caught lying by omission on Monday after CBS correspondent David Begnaud reported via Twitter that they were failing to disclose the legal status of seven suspects involved in a jewelry store robbery. It was a scoop backed-up by two federal law enforcement sources familiar with the case but during that night’s CBS Evening News, the network completely ignored it.
Following a jewelry store robbery at La Plaza Mall on Saturday, local officials told the press they had arrested seven male suspects believed to be involved in the incident, which was originally thought to be an active shooter situation. The two law enforcement officials familiar with the case were disturbed by that explanation because it omitted the fact that all the men arrested were illegal immigrants.
What was thought to be an active shooter situation at a McAllen, TX, mall, over the weekend, was a robbery allegedly committed by 7 Mexican nationals, according to 2 sources, who tell me the men entered the U.S., illegally, 2wks ago, in Reynosa, having paid a smuggler 4,500 each pic.twitter.com/cXwlyeuoCU
— David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) July 30, 2018
“So, we’re in Puerto Rico shooting a documentary that will air in September, but I’ve gotten some information out of Texas regarding an incident that happened in McAllen that I wanted to pass along to you,” Begnaud prefaced as he began his Twitter video. “A couple of sources reached out to me this morning concerned information regarding the recent robbery of a jewelry store had not been accurately reported in this sense.”
“According to two sources, two law enforcement sources, seven suspects responsible for a robbery at La Plaza Mall in McAllen, Texas are in the country illegally,” he continued. Begnaud’s sources told him that all seven of the men arrested were “Mexican nationals” and some of them “had been previously deported”.
“My sources also tell me they crossed—the illegal immigrants crossed into the country in Reynosa, Mexico. They claim to have paid $4,500 per person to enter the country illegally with the help of a smuggler,” he added.
When I asked a McAllen police spokesman if the 7 suspects were in the country illegally, he said “I don’t know.”
— David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) July 30, 2018
My federal law enformcent sources say the local police do know. As to why they aren’t saying it, I’m not sure.
Begnaud’s video was not just a one-off. He checked in periodically with updates on the case including mugshots of the suspects. “There’s a concern among law enforcement as to why local officials in McAllen aren’t releasing details about the suspects’ immigration status, background, etc,” he wrote as he highlighted Oscar Margain, border correspondent for TEGNA who was also trying to get to the bottom of what was going on.
“When I asked a McAllen police spokesman if the 7 suspects were in the country illegally, he said ‘I don’t know,’” Begnaud reported in another update. “My federal law enformcent[sic] sources say the local police do know. As to why they aren’t saying it, I’m not sure.”
CBSNews.com still had their original report about the robbery up on their website, but the last time it was updated was July 28. “About an hour later, the City of McAllen confirmed that police were investigating an attempted robbery and that seven suspects had been apprehended,” was what report had on the suspects arrested.
Instead of informing their viewers on Begnaud’s scoop, the CBS Evening News ran a full report stoking fear of 3D printed guns and touting the states rushing to stop their digital release.
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
CBS
David Begnaud’s Twitter Video
July 30, 2018DAVID BEGNAUD: So, we’re in Puerto Rico shooting a documentary that will air in September, but I’ve gotten some information out of Texas regarding an incident that happened in McAllen that I wanted to pass along to you.
A couple of sources reached out to me this morning concerned information regarding the recent robbery of a jewelry store had not been accurately reported in this sense. According to two sources, two law enforcement sources, seven suspects responsible for a robbery at La Plaza Mall in McAllen, Texas are in the country illegally.
Let me give you the information that I have confirmed through two different sources. The suspects are all Mexican nationals, all seven. A few had been previously deported. It’s believed they were in McAllen for a couple of weeks prior to the crime that was committed at the mall. They were arrested for robbery at the jewelry store and allegedly admitted their involvement, according to the two sources.
My sources also tell me they crossed—the illegal immigrants crossed into the country in Reynosa, Mexico. They claim to have paid $4,500 per person to enter the country illegally with the help of a smuggler.
The incident happened at the La Plaza Mall. The call actually came in as an active shooter. In fact, when CBS News was first made aware and we started making calls, our colleagues in New York and also in Dallas, it was first radioed in as an active shooter. It turned out not to be.
Local officials say it was actually the glass that was shattered as the suspects were committing the crime that’s what people thought was gun fire. Turned out no shots were fired. All suspects were arrested. No injuries were reported. And that is all the information that I have, but I wanted to make sure it was reported as accurately as we know it. I’m told that all suspects are still in custody.
