McLennan County targets more than 70 gangs with new full-time investigator
Officials address gang recruitment problem involving children as young as 10
MCLENNAN COUNTY, Texas (KWTX) - McLennan County has hired its first full-time gang investigator to address what officials describe as a growing problem involving more than 70 active gangs that recruit children as young as 10 years old.
Jeff Aguirre began his role as the county’s dedicated gang investigator about a month ago. Aguirre said the county has seen shooters as young as 13 committing gang shootings.
District Attorney Josh Tetens said the position was created using the border prosecution grant, which the county has been applying for and receiving for years. McLennan County is more than 300 miles from the southern border, but the grant allows counties to use the money for anti-gang law enforcement initiatives.
“Unfortunately, here in McLennan County we do have a gang problem,” Tetens said.
The county’s Texas Anti Gang Unit is one of nine such units operating statewide. Aguirre’s responsibilities include gathering intelligence, interviewing witnesses and preparing subpoenas for prosecution.
Social media plays a significant role in connecting gang networks, particularly with hybrid gangs, Tetens said. The investigator will focus on mapping these digital connections to build stronger cases.
Gang recruitment often begins with children joining what officials call “cliques” before advancing through gang hierarchies, Tetens explained. The rapid progression concerns law enforcement officials who say no area of McLennan County remains unaffected by gang activity.
“There’s really no one place that’s safe,” Aguirre said.
Aguirre previously worked in the sheriff’s office before joining the district attorney’s office in 2022. He unsuccessfully ran for McLennan County sheriff in 2024 against incumbent Parnell McNamara.
The investigator position bridges law enforcement and prosecution efforts. While officers handle arrests, the prosecution side secures convictions that remove gang members from communities, Aguirre said.
McLennan County has secured more than 150 gang-related convictions in recent years, with officials expecting that number to increase with dedicated investigative resources.
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