According to Hockley County authorities, around 3:00 Monday afternoon, 40 year old Gilbert Gallegos entered the Smyer Elementary school. He told office workers he was there to pick up 10 year old Rosa Cervantez from school, saying she had a doctor’s appointment. The school allowed the two to leave together even though the girl said she did not have a doctor’s appointment.
Gallegos and the girl’s mother, Brenda Cervantez, had been living together for about 10 months but recently broke up. However, the school was unaware of this. Immediately after the two left the campus, school officials began to think something was wrong and called the girl’s mother and local authorities.
Police began searching for the suspect’s vehicle. Around 4:30 p.m. the car was spotted in the parking lot of the United Supermarket on 50th street and Avenue Q in Lubbock. Lubbock police surrounded the building and the vehicle. Gallegos was arrested as he left the store. Rosa Cervantez was found safe.
We’ll keep you updated as more information becomes available
