Fugitive Accused of 12-Year-Old's Murder Nabbed at U.S.-Mexico Line, Ex-Girlfriend Charged in Escape Plot

In a chilling twist at the border, Terry Bryan Rivera, 27, the man accused of the senseless killing of 12-year-old Carlos Fernandez, was apprehended by law enforcement officials as he attempted to slink away across the U.S.-Mexico line; the arrest was confirmed by Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez in a social media post, an article from the Houston Chronicle reveals Rivera, on the lam since the March 4 shooting in a Cloverleaf apartment, was corralled at a Brownsville point of entry, and is now cooling his heels in Cameron County custody, while the mother Ashley Rostro, recounted horrific tales of abuse, claiming Rivera had burglarized her apartment three days prior, even making threats with her pilfered firearm, details Gilliland of the Harris County Sheriff's Office confirmed, including her failed bid for a restraining order against the accused just days before her son's murder.

Rostro painted a tragic portrait in her interview with ABC 13, revealed by the Houston Chronicle, of her son, describing him as "my protector," a young boy who tragically ran into the fray to save her and was gunned down; Rivera's past, a shadow of violence, includes charges of assault and making terroristic threats, that shows a pattern of plea bargains with lesser offenses his method of dodging longer sentences.

Alva Cornejo, 51, Rivera's ex-girlfriend and mother to the victim, was also arrested, facing charges of hindering apprehension, the turn of events noted in a KHOU 11 News report; she was allegedly in contact with Rivera post-shooting, advising him to surrender but instead witnessed his escape, compounding her tale with a half-baked trip to the casino as a cover, further unveiled were text messages and online searches about border travel, with an ICE immigration hold casting a longer shadow on her citizenship status from El Salvador.

Melanie Driscoll laments the tragedy and Fernandez's family asserts their desire for justice, "Very happy with the hard work and dedication that was put into capturing him. Thanking everyone involved and the community for the support."  a sentiment shared in a message obtained by KHOU 11 News.