EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — A 25-year-old Las Cruces man was arrested after a viral video shows him “aggressively ” approaching a vehicle and brandishing a firearm in far East El Paso, according to the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office.
Julian Cesar Valdez of Las Cruces, 25, was arrested and booked into the Doña Ana County Detention Center, pending extradition to El Paso County to face two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Julian Cesar Valdez. Photo courtesy of the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office.
Shortly before 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 7, deputies received information of an incident captured on video near the intersection of Pellicano Drive and Sunfire Boulevard.
Through the investigation, deputies were able to identify and contact the victim, who reported that on Sunday, April 5, while stopped at a traffic light, an unknown man, later identified as Valdez, approached their vehicle “in an aggressive manner,” yelling and brandishing a firearm.
Valdez pointed the gun at the two occupants in the vehicle, “placing them in fear for their lives,” EPCSO said.
As the investigation continued, Valdez was identified and two warrants were obtained for his arrest.
In collaboration with the Las Cruces Police Department, deputies located Valdez at a residence along the 300 block of Jasper Drive in Las Cruces. At around 10 a.m. on Wednesday, April 8, Valdez was arrested.
“This case highlights the power of social media when it works alongside law enforcement to keep our community safe,” El Paso County Sheriff Oscar Ugarte said. “We thank our deputies and the Las Cruces Police Department for their collaboration and swift work in identifying and apprehending this individual.”
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.