CULLMAN, Ala. – The Cullman County Sheriff’s Office and Cullman County District Attorney’s Office in a press conference on Wednesday, Sept. 4, identified the suspect in a shooting that occurred Sunday, Sept. 1.
Sheriff Matt Gentry identified the suspect as a man who is in the country illegally. Abel Medardo Sacrab-Chen, 21, of Guatemala, has been charged with first-degree robbery, with the possibility of additional charges.
According to District Attorney Champ Crocker, Sacrab-Chen stabbed the unnamed victim, a 36-year veteran, who was meeting the suspect to purchase a trailer. Crocker said it turned into a shooting and carjacking incident.
“The American veteran, a law-abiding citizen, was attempting to purchase something online and traveled to Brunner Street in Cullman to meet the seller,” Gentry said. “Thankfully he was carrying a firearm on Sunday and that was what saved his life. The bad guy told him to give him his money and put a knife to his throat. The victim was a veteran and tactically aware, so he shot him. The bad guy was an illegal alien and had only been in Cullman for a few months. He posed as a seller online and then tried to murder and rob not only a victim, but a veteran.”
Gentry said the suspect was caught a short time later in the victim’s truck, after the victim – shot and lying on a county road – was discovered by a good Samaritan. The victim was able to identify the suspect and his vehicle in order for law enforcement to quickly track it down.
Sacrab-Chen and the victim are both being treated for their injuries. They both sustained gunshot wounds.
“For me, it is ridiculous that we see leadership today allowing criminals to come across our border and commit crimes on our citizens. The citizen just wanted to buy a trailer to do work. Work that he has done every day for the past 60 years – going to work, serving our country – doing the things we do every day,” Gentry said.
“Then you take an illegal alien, who we would have never known if our victim had never shot him, to come in and commit a violent act. We worked with Homeland Security to identify him. I’m pissed off. I am angry. At some point we have to stand up as Americans, that we will not tolerate criminals coming into our communities and committing violent crimes,” he continued. “Our citizens and law enforcement work shoulder to shoulder to take action to protect our community.”
Crocker said the quick response to the incident helped in this case, as well as the good Samaritans who assisted the victim and the media for getting the word out.
“I can confirm that my office has approved warrants for robbery in the first degree, and we also expect there will be more to come – at some point a grand jury will hear these changes and they have the power to add to or sustain the charges,” Crocker said. “Being in the country illegally may get you a free house in California, but it does not entitle you to immunity from prosecution in Cullman County.”
Answering a question regarding if Chen would be deported, Crocker said, “No, If you commit a crime in Cullman County, whether you’re in the country legally or illegally, you will be prosecuted.”
Added Gentry, “And afterward, we will happily give him a ride to prison where he will go.”
Authorities on Sunday said the incident ended at the intersection of U.S. Highway 278 and U.S. Highway 31 and began on County Road 463.
Copyright 2024 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
