HORIZON CITY, TX — Two juveniles were arrested in Horizon City after police say three masked suspects tried to break into a home and then escaped on electric bikes. The incident began Sunday evening when a homeowner in the 300 block of Duanesburg Street called 911 after hearing a loud noise at the front door and spotting the attempted break-in on surveillance video.
Police said the suspects left before officers arrived, but an officer soon saw three people on e-bikes near Kenazo Avenue and Horizon Boulevard, less than half a mile away. The encounter turned into a pursuit across the neighborhood before the two arrests were made.
Homeowner called 911 after seeing masked people at the front door
The Horizon City Police Department said the call came in at about 8:31 p.m. from a house near Carroll T. Welch Elementary School. The homeowner reported hearing a loud bang or other loud noise at the front door and then checked surveillance video.
According to police, the video showed three masked individuals trying to get into the residence. Officers were dispatched, but by the time they reached the area, the suspects had already taken off. Police said the homeowner’s quick call helped them respond to the scene while the suspects were still nearby.
Police spotted three e-bike riders matching the suspects nearby
After the initial report, an officer said they saw three people riding electric bikes at Kenazo Avenue and Horizon Boulevard. Police said the riders matched the description of the suspects seen at the home, which led officers to believe they had found the group involved in the attempted break-in.
Horizon City officers and deputies with the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office tried to stop the riders, but the group fled through the neighborhood. That prompted police to widen the response and look for assistance as the suspects kept moving away from the area.
County and state units helped search when the riders split up
As the chase continued, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office brought in its Special Operations unit, and the Texas Department of Public Safety also responded to help. Police said the extra support was needed because the suspects were moving through a broader area and were trying to get away from officers.
One suspect was caught after losing control of the e-bike in a deserted area while trying to escape. A second suspect abandoned his bike and ran on foot before being taken into custody. Police did not say exactly how the third suspect got away or whether that person was later found.
Authorities say no property appears to have been taken from the house
Investigators said it appears nothing was stolen during the attempted break-in. That detail suggests the suspects were stopped before they could get inside and remove anything from the home, though police have not described any damage beyond the reported noise at the front door.
Both e-bikes were impounded after the arrests. The police department did not say whether the bikes belonged to the suspects or how they were obtained, and officials have not released additional details about the third masked person seen at the scene and during the getaway.
Juveniles face evading and reckless driving charges in juvenile system
Horizon City police said both juveniles were charged with two counts of evading arrest or detention with a vehicle and reckless driving. After the arrests, they were taken to the Juvenile Probation Department rather than booked into an adult jail.
The case now moves through the juvenile system as investigators continue looking at the attempted burglary and the chase that followed. Police have not said whether more charges are possible or whether the third suspect is still being sought.
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