Suspect Arrested After Violent Home Invasion in Laredo

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A 20-year-old Laredo man, Derek Emiliano Almaguer, has been arrested after allegedly forcing his way into a residence, assaulting a woman, and threatening to kill the occupants while armed with a knife. Almaguer fled the scene but was later apprehended in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico with the assistance of U.S. and Mexican authorities.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the ongoing challenges of domestic violence and the need for effective enforcement of protective orders. The suspect's history of prior arrests for similar offenses also raises concerns about repeat offenders and the effectiveness of the criminal justice system in preventing such violent acts.

The details

According to the Laredo Police Department, officers responded to a domestic disturbance call on January 15, 2026, where Almaguer had forced his way into a residence, struck a female victim, and threatened to kill the occupants while brandishing a large kitchen knife. Almaguer briefly exited the home before returning and reentering, continuing to make threats, before fleeing the scene. Almaguer had an active protective order prohibiting him from contacting the victims or entering the residence, and he had also removed a court-ordered ankle monitor prior to the incident.

• On January 15, 2026, police responded to a domestic disturbance call at around 10 p.m.
• Almaguer had an active protective order issued on June 30, 2025 by 406th District Judge David E. Garcia.
• Almaguer had removed a court-ordered ankle monitor before the incident.

What’s next

Almaguer was transferred to U.S. Marshals custody and booked at the Laredo Police Department headquarters before being transported to Webb County Jail. He is being held on bonds totaling $485,000 for charges including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, burglary of a habitation, violation of a protective order, and assault causing bodily injury to a family member.