McALLEN, Texas – Aaron Solorzano, 25, of Donna, has been charged by a federal grand jury today with one count of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and another count of unlawfully possessing a sawed-off shotgun, United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced today.

On Sept. 28, 2012, a criminal complaint was filed against Solorzano. The complaint alleged that on March 31, 2012, he used a sawed-off shotgun to shoot a loss-prevention officer who tried to detain him after witnessing him shoplift inside the Wal-Mart on 1200 Jackson Ave. in McAllen. Solorzano also allegedly stabbed the officer’s boyfriend in the parking lot before driving away in a Nissan Altima.

On April 2, McAllen Police recovered the Altima in a parking lot near the Progreso Port of Entry and found ammunition in the trunk, along with what appeared to be a piece of flesh. That same day, Mexican authorities apprehended Solorzano in Nuevo Progreso and turned him over to Homeland Security agents and McAllen Police Department officers. The police later recovered the sawed-off shotgun at a residence in Donna where Solorzano had allegedly been staying.

As a convicted felon, having been convicted of aggravated assault in 2007, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce. It is also a federal crime for anyone to possess an unregistered sawed-off shotgun.

At a detention hearing on Oct. 10, 2012, U.S. Magistrate Judge Dorina Ramos ordered Solorzano to remain in federal custody with no bond pending trial. If convicted, Solorzano faces up to 10 years in federal prison with no parole on each count.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the FBI investigated with the assistance of the McAllen Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Sully is prosecuting the case.

A criminal complaint/indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.
A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.