Two Dead, Cop Wounded After Shooting Spree

"EL PASO, TX — A motive remains unknown for a rampage in which a woman was killed and an El Paso police officer was shot and wounded after stopping a motorist.

"Both might have been at the wrong place at the wrong time.

"The woman, identified by police as Cecilia Diaz, 61, was a caring person who had worked with young children, a friend said.

"El Paso police officials Wednesday identified the suspected shooter as Frank Aparicio, 30, of the 12000 block of Sal Rasura Court in the far East Side.

"About 5 a.m. Tuesday, police found Diaz inside the home where Aparicio lived, a police spokesman said.

"Police have not disclosed the connection between Diaz and Aparicio and how and when Diaz was killed.

"Aparicio was found dead Tuesday morning of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot behind a store in the Lower Valley.

"`Investigators believe and physical evidence suggests that Frank Aparicio is responsible for the murder of Cecilia Diaz and the attempted capital murder of Officer Mike Garcia,` a police news release said.

"An investigation continues but because Aparicio took his own life, investigators might never completely know why he went on a violent spree, a police spokesman has said.

"Police officials said that Aparicio is suspected of shooting Garcia on Monday night when the officer had stopped a driver on North Loop Drive near Yarbrough Drive in the Lower Valley.

"Garcia was shot several times, sparking a massive search for the shooter that included blocked streets, police dogs and helicopters.

"A police spokesman said that the shooting appeared to be a random targeting of a police officer.

"Garcia is recovering at a hospital. He has been with the Police Department for two years and is assigned to the Mission Valley Regional Command Center, officials said."

Read more at elpasotimes.com...