Texas: FBI Shot, Killed Suspect in Kidnapping of Migrants From Mexico

During a rescue operation in Texas, FBI agents managed to kill one of the kidnappers who held three migrants hostage for nearly a week.

Without disclosing their nationalities, authorities said the three migrants had illegally crossed the U.S. border from Mexico.

According to the Associated Press, the three migrants were traveling in a vehicle on Interstate 10 in Waller County on March 18 when they were stopped by kidnappers and then forced into another vehicle.

However, the driver was able to call 911 and informed the Waller County Sheriff's Office about the kidnapping.

That led to a situation where the hostage takers took the migrants hostage in north Houston and confronted elements of the Waller County Sheriff's Office, the FBI, and other law enforcement groups.

Gunfire reportedly broke out between the hostage-takers and FBI agents early Thursday morning when federal agents moved in.

James Smith, special agent in charge of the FBI's Houston office, said one suspect was killed while the Harris County Sheriff's Office arrested another suspect.

Smith noted that agents with the FBI's hostage rescue team were able to rescue two people being held at a motel. He said no law enforcement personnel was injured, and a review team from the FBI will investigate the shooting.

However, Smith did not say how many agents were involved, how they found the migrants, what led up to the shooting, or what happened to the other migrant that was not rescued.

Kidnappers Demanded Money From the Family of One of the Three Migrants

After kidnapping the migrants, the kidnappers held them inside a Motel 6 in Texas. That was when the tense five-day ordeal began for the kidnapped migrants.

According to New York Daily News, the kidnappers demanded money from the family of at least one of the migrants, and they were paid an undisclosed amount.

However, the kidnappers wanted more and even sent videos to the family to show them they were armed and beating up one of their hostages. The hostage being beaten up was described as an elderly man.

Waller County District Attorney's Office prosecutor Sean Whittmore did not disclose the migrants' immigration status. It was also unknown whether they were being illegally transported at the time of their kidnapping.

3 Migrants Held Hostage in Texas Tortured

It was a harrowing experience for the migrants. The New York Post reported that the kidnappers tortured the migrants over those five days, apart from being held against their own will as the kidnappers attempted to extort their families for money.

James Smith said the migrants were now safe and relocated to a hotel after they were rescued. As for the suspects, authorities have not yet released their identities.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Authorities Say 1 Person Fatally Shot During Rescue - From the Associated Press