The FBI’s Dallas Field Office is putting serious money on the table, offering a $50,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of Abel Elias Acosta, the teenager accused in a 2021 Garland convenience-store shooting that left three other teens dead. The case, involving what authorities say was a then-14-year-old gunman, has dragged on for years as investigators chase leads in North Texas and beyond the border.
In a press release from FBI Dallas, Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock and Garland Police Chief Jeff Bryan announced the reward and urged anyone with solid information to step up. “Today, the FBI is announcing a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Abel Elias Acosta,” Rothrock said in the statement. Chief Bryan added that the cash could be the nudge that finally delivers justice for the victims’ families.
What Happened In Garland
According to surveillance video and court records, the shooting unfolded on the evening of Dec. 26, 2021, inside a Texaco convenience store in the 700 block of West Walnut Street in Garland, where three juveniles ages 14, 16 and 17 were found dead and a fourth victim was critically injured, as reported by The Dallas Morning News. Authorities identified Abel Elias Acosta as the alleged shooter. He was 14 at the time and has never been taken into custody.
How Authorities Are Searching
Federal officials say a warrant in the Northern District of Texas charges Acosta with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution, following the state-level investigation. Investigators believe he crossed into Mexico and is still on the run. The FBI’s wanted materials list Acosta as now 18 years old and warn that he should be considered armed and dangerous, according to the FBI. Tips can be called in to 1-800-225-5324 (1-800-CALL-FBI) or the FBI’s Dallas Field Office at 972-559-5000, and information may also be reported to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.
Case Status And Legal Context
Abel’s father, Richard Acosta Jr., was convicted in Dallas County of capital murder for what prosecutors said was his role as the getaway driver, and he received a sentence of life without parole, The Dallas Morning News reported. Because Abel was a juvenile at the time of the killings, any legal strategy and potential punishment would differ from a typical adult capital case, something prosecutors and courts will have to weigh if he is ever found and brought back to face state charges.
Community Reaction And What’s Next
Local coverage, including from WFAA, highlighted the FBI’s April 8 reward announcement. Investigators say the new reward is aimed at shaking loose fresh, corroborated leads and disrupting any network that might be helping Acosta stay hidden.
Anyone with information about Abel Acosta’s whereabouts is urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-225-5324 or the FBI’s Dallas Field Office at 972-559-5000. Tips may remain anonymous, and officials say confidentiality is guaranteed.
