Mercedes Giveaway at Texas-Mexico Border Casino Leads to Shooting, Two Dead
Posted on: September 28, 2025, 09:42h.
Last updated on: September 28, 2025, 10:54h.
- A shooting broke out at the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino early Sunday morning
- Police are still seeking to apprehend the shooter
- Two people are dead, with more in critical condition
UPDATE: Law enforcement says a suspect is in custody.
A brand new Mercedes E350 was given away at the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino Hotel in Eagle Pass, TX, late Saturday night. The “Mercedes September to Remember” promotion fun at the tribal casino along the Mexican border quickly ended moments later when a mass shooting broke out.
Local media reports that gunshots began just after midnight, around 12:15 am local time on early Sunday morning. Maverick County Judge Ramsey English Cantu said in a Facebook post that the shooting occurred in the parking lot, though commenters claiming to be there claimed the event began inside the casino. Photos on social media showed gaming machines with bullet holes.
Law enforcement says two people were killed, and at least seven were shot. One of the fatalities was pronounced dead on the scene. The other was reportedly pronounced dead while in transport to a nearby hospital.
A local NBC News affiliate reported that “at least two to four others” were airlifted in critical condition to San Antonio hospitals. The Lucky Eagle Casino is about 150 miles south of San Antonio in Eagle Pass along the Texas-Mexico border. The casino hotel is owned and operated by the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas.
Benz Promo Had Casino Bustling
The Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino is the largest gaming facility in Texas. The Class I and II Indian casino offers more than 3,300 slot-like electronic bingo-based gaming machines along with bingo and poker.
Only hours before the deadly shooting, a lucky winner, who opted to go only by the name “A.C.,” was the big winner of the Mercedes-Benz E350. The day-long promo began again at 1 pm with a $2,500 cash prize. Lucky Rewards members with their player’s card inserted in a machine had the chance to win $1,000 every hour from 2 pm until 9 pm. The Benz was given away at 10:30 pm, and a $3,500 cash grand finale was awarded at 11:45 pm.
The Mercedes and cash giveaways had the Lucky Eagle Casino even busier than normal for a Saturday night. The shooting suspect remained at large as of Sunday morning at 6:30 local time. The assailant reportedly made his getaway in a black Nissan Frontier truck.
I want to reassure our community that all law enforcement agencies are working jointly, in unison with our local, state, and federal partners, to carry out a non-stop investigation into this situation. Tribal Police, Maverick County Sheriff’s Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, Eagle Pass Police Department, Texas Rangers, Border Patrol, and FBI Law Enforcement agencies are working round-the-clock to ensure the safety of our community, and above all, to bring justice against the individual responsible for this crime,” Cantu said.
“When is enough, enough? We must come together and put an end to the senseless gun violence that continues to plague our country and society. Maverick County deserves safety, peace, and unity — and we will keep fighting for it,” Cantu added.
Border Violence
Eagle Pass, the county seat of Maverick County, is a border city on the Rio Grande known for its military outpost and being a key port of entry between the US and Mexico. Eagle Pass has been at the center of recent migration challenges, including the 2024 standoff between the federal government and the State of Texas.
Despite its logistical challenges, Eagle Pass is considered a relatively safe place to live. Data shows that crime and homicide rates are lower than the national average.
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