BROTHER: DRUGS TO BLAME IN SHOOTING

Relative Says Man Accused of Killing Family Was Addicted to Crack

Abel Ochoa went to church Sunday and spent the afternoon with his family.
Then he smoked crack cocaine in the back yard of his home before a shooting
spree that left his wife, two daughters and two in-laws dead, Mr. Ochoa's
brother said Tuesday.

Gabriel Ochoa said his brother had long battled an addiction to crack and
had tried to kick the habit "but just couldn't."

By phone from the Lew Sterrett Justice Center, where he was being held on
capital murder charges, Mr. Ochoa, 29, told his brother that he felt
"separated from himself" and didn't know what he was doing when the
shootings occurred.

There were no arguments among the family before the shooting, Gabriel Ochoa
said.

"The drugs are to blame," he said.

Crystal Ochoa, 7, and Ana Ochoa, 9 months, were among the five shot to
death. Mr. Ochoa told his brother that after shooting his wife, Cecilia
Ochoa, 32, and daughters Crystal Ochoa, 7, and 9-month-old Ana Ochoa, he
hesitated but continued, shooting his father-in-law, Bartolo Alvizo, and
sister-in-law Jacqueline Saleh.

Another sister-in-law, 27-year-old Alma Alvizo, was seriously wounded in the
shooting. She remained in critical condition Tuesday.

Cecilia Ochoa Abel Ochoa could not be reached for comment in jail, where he
was being held in lieu of $2 million bail. His attorney, Geoff Henley, said
that he had not seen the evidence against Mr. Ochoa and that it was too
early to talk about plans for a defense.

Police have declined to discuss what may have led to the killings.

Abel Ochoa's drug addiction began a few years ago when a woman with whom he
was having an affair introduced him to crack cocaine, Gabriel Ochoa said.

"From then on he kept doing it," he said. "He was in rehab. He wanted to
stop but just couldn't."

Relatives of Ms. Ochoa declined to comment Tuesday.

Gabriel Ochoa said he had not talked to Cecilia Ochoa's relatives, who were
keeping watch over Ms. Alvizo at Methodist Medical Center and making funeral
arrangements.

According to police reports, Mr. Ochoa opened fire inside his central Oak
Cliff house about 6 p.m. Sunday. The family had gathered there after
attending church and visiting Gabriel Ochoa at his home.

Abel Ochoa Mr. Ochoa fled the home, leaving a loaded semiautomatic handgun
in the house, police said. Ms. Alvizo was wounded in the shoulder, arm and
side but managed to stumble across the street for help.

"We're just trying to figure everything out," Gabriel Ochoa said.

Mr. Henley said he had an emotional meeting with his client.

"He also grieves the loss of his family," Mr. Henley said. "He cried
periodically in the course of our discussions."

He said he was concerned that a lawyer was not present when Mr. Ochoa gave a
statement to police or when a jail psychiatrist screened him.

"It's far too early for anyone to rush to judgment," he said. "It's
impossible to frame a defense when you don't know what it is you're being
charged with."

Cynthia Vega of WFAA-TV contributed to this report.