Palestine, Texas (August 2, 2023) – Three people are in jail, and one person is in critical but stable condition following an early morning altercation in Palestine that escalated into a stabbing.
On August 1, 2023, at approximately 02:20 a.m., Officers with the Palestine Police Department (PPD) responded to a residence in the 1200 block of W. Debard Street in Palestine in reference to a stabbing. Officers located a victim, identified as a 21-year-old male, with a stab wound in the upper left chest area. A witness on scene indicated that the victim was stabbed by Brandon Sambrano, 31, during an altercation. Sambrano was reported to have fled the area in a pickup driven by a subject identified as Paul Estrada, 32.
Officers traveled to 1305 N. Howard St, as this was known by officers as the address of Sambrano based on previous contacts involving him. Upon arrival, they observed the vehicle described by the witness and noted that the hood was still warm to the touch.
Officers spoke to Rosario Sambrano Torres, 58, mother to suspect Brandon Sambrano, at the location and asked for Brandon. Rosario told them to wait while she checked to see if he was home, and she walked into the house. Rosario then returned, locked the door, and told Officers that Sambrano was not home. After this interaction, no one inside the house would return to the door.
PPD Detectives were contacted, responded, and drafted search and arrest warrants. The PPD Emergency Response Team (ERT) also responded. Officers began hailing the residents over loudspeaker, instructing them to exit the house. Sergeant J. Heavner drafted warrants for the arrest of Brandon Sambrano for Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon and a search warrant for the residence at 1305 N. Howard St. These warrants were signed by Judge Pam Foster Fletcher of the 349th Judicial District in Anderson County, TX.
After a short stand-off, Brandon Sambrano and Rosario Torres exited the residence's front door, and Sambrano surrendered. Torres was asked who else was inside the residence, and she stated there were no additional persons. PPD ERT entered and located two additional males hiding in locked rooms. One of these persons was Paul Estrada, who was found to be wanted on a felony warrant issued out of the 3rd Judicial District of Anderson County for Violation of a Protective Order 2+ Times Within 1 Month (Violation of Probation).
Sambrano, Torres, and Estrada were arrested and transported to the Anderson County jail where Sambrano and Estrada were booked on their respective warrants. Torres was booked for False Statement to Peace Officer and Hinder Apprehension or Prosecution Known Felon. The victim was described as being in critical but stable condition at the time of this writing.