Photo Courtesy Of Mansfield Independent School District
Texas National Guard Member, Spc. Bishop Evans’ body was found three days after he tried to save migrants from the Rio Grande River.
According to US Rep. Tony Gonzales, his body was found on Apr. 25 after he went missing three days ago, on Apr. 22.
Gonzales made the announcement via his Twitter account that day.
“This morning Spc. Evans’ body was found and identified by local authorities. This young soldier made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of protecting and serving our country. He will never be forgotten,” he wrote.
Maj. Gen. Tom Suelzer, Adjutant General for Texas, also released a statement via the Texas Military Department’s website, expressing his grief over the young man’s passing.
“We are devastated by the loss of a member of our Guard family,” he said. “We recognize the selflessness of this heroic soldier who put his life above others in service to our state and national security. The Texas Military Department sends our deepest condolences to the family. Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time.”
On Apr. 22, the 22-year-old artilleryman attempted to rescue two migrants as they crossed the border near Eagle Pass. The pair have been in US Customs and Border Patrol custody on suspicion of being “involved in illicit transnational narcotics trafficking.”
Evans was reportedly assigned to Gov. Greg Abbott’s Operation Lone Star in what the politician called a crisis at the US-Mexico border. He was from Arlington and served in the guard for nearly two years before he tragically died.
“He wouldn’t ask you who you were before he tried to help you. He just wouldn’t,” his grandmother, Jo Ann Johnson, told WFAA doing a recent press conference. “It doesn’t matter your nationality, how you look, your color hair. That’s who my baby was.”
“He would help you in need. He would die for you. He did die. He’s going to be missed and always be loved and carried in our hearts,” Evan’s grandfather, Dannie Johnson, added. “We want to be positive about Bishop because he was a positive person, and I would like to leave it at that.”
His family also described him as someone who loved family game nights and anime.
“Bishop loved to dance, so I’ll miss that,” his grandma said.