By Mary Jane Farmer for the Van Alstyne News.  Mug shots of the suspects are at the bottom of of this report.

In the early hours of Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, a coordinated law enforcement effort successfully apprehended three suspects in Van Alstyne, following a violent incident at an Oklahoma Tribal facility and a subsequent vehicle pursuit through Grayson County, reported Grayson County Sheriff’s Office Lt. and Public Information Officer Jeremy Cox.

It first started at a casino in Oklahoma and the police chase was called in to be entering Grayson County at about 4:26 a.m, when Grayson County Deputies were advised of the pursuit entering Texas from Oklahoma. Denison Police Department and the Texas Highway Patrol were also in the pursuit of the suspects, who were in a Dodge Charger which continued southbound on Highway 75 into Texas.

About 11 minutes later, at 4:37 a.m., Van Alstyne Police and Grayson County Deputies located the abandoned suspect vehicle near Exit 51 (FM 121/Van Alstyne Parkway) off U.S. Highway 75 southbound.  Deputies, along with Van Alstyne PD, saw three male suspects fleeing west through an open field north of FM 121. KTen television said it was VAPD who spotted the vehicle and saw the suspects running away. KTen also reported that the suspects were thought to be on Jim Jones Road.

The Search and Capture:
Cox said that deputies quickly established a perimeter with the assistance of Van Alstyne PD, Gunter PD, Anna PD, Denison PD, and Texas DPS. Drones were deployed by GCSO investigators and Anna PD and able to locate where the suspects may have been hiding in a wooded area. All agencies who got involved and helped in this situation are listed below.

“Grayson County Sheriff’s Office, with the help of so many other agencies were able to set up a very good perimeter in that area and began the search,” Cox added. “We called in additional assets: Our assets and other agencies’ as well. The Anna Police Department brought their drones, we had our drones, and we also deployed our K9 ‘Raven’.” Additionally, the DPS helicopter arrived on scene and assisted a track team made up of Raven, four deputies, and three DPS troopers as they began a systematic search of the woods.

The team located one suspect fleeing east and took him into custody. Shortly thereafter, the remaining two suspects were found in the same area and arrested without further incident. All three suspects were treated by Van Alstyne and Anna EMS and taken to the Grayson County Jail. Television station KXII said that custody was made about 8 a.m. Tuesday.

Suspect Information:

The three suspects arrested, incarcerated, and with current charges filed against them at Grayson County Jail are:

Jesus Luna, 31 years old and from Irving, include Evading Arrest/Detention w/Vehicle, Evading Arrest/Detention, Tampering with Physical Evidence with Intent to Impair, which Cox said was set because Luna apparently tossed the gun he is supposed to have carried and displayed. He has also had a warrant issued in Dallas County against Luna, charging him with Assault Causes Bodily Injury. His total bail is set at $130,000, payable in surety bonds.

Bryan Luna, 24, is also from Irving. Jail records show this suspect was charged with Evading Arrest/Detention and Fugitive from Justice, with bail at $60,000 payable with surety bonds.

Leon Villa, 23, of Mesquite has one charge filed against him, that being Evading Arrest/Detention.  His bail is set at $50,000, also payable with a surety bond.

Reports from KTen also said that two of the suspects are also facing felony assault charges in Oklahoma.

Agencies Involved:
Cox said, “This operation was a testament to the outstanding collaboration among multiple agencies, including:

• Choctaw Light Horse Police
• Denison PD
• Grayson County Sheriff’s Office
• Van Alstyne PD
• Anna PD
• Gunter PD
• Texas DPS
• Texas Parks and Wildlife
• Van Alstyne FD/EMS
• Anna FD/EMS

Cox added that the Sheriff’s Office “Extends our gratitude to Van Alstyne ISD and Grayson College for temporarily delaying campus operations near the area to ensure public safety during the search.

Photos below:

Left to right:  Jesus Luna, Bryan Luna, Leon Villa