A Mexican national involved in a shooting incident at a Columbus taco restaurant has been sentenced to over two years in prison. Abel Velasquez-Avecedo, age 30, received a 27-month sentence after pleading guilty to charges of illegal firearm possession as an undocumented immigrant and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine.
The Department of Justice press release details how, on April 11, 2025, Velasquez-Avecedo became involved in an altercation and subsequently fired multiple shots from a vehicle in the vicinity of the Taco Nice restaurant. Law enforcement officers discovered him in possession of a gun and various quantities of narcotics.
Velasquez-Avecedo has a criminal history that includes an assault conviction and two instances of operating a vehicle while intoxicated. His assault charge stemmed from an incident originally listed as aggravated burglary, kidnapping, rape, and assault. At the time of the shooting, Velasquez-Avecedo had absconded from probation related to these charges.
The sentencing was overseen by Chief U.S District Judge Sarah D. Morrison and announced by U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Dominick S. Gerace II, and Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge for ICE's Homeland Security Investigations, Detroit. This case falls under Operation Take Back America, which focuses on combating illegal immigration, dismantling cartels, and addressing violent crime—a mission supported by the full resources of the Department of Justice.
