A Border Patrol agent shot and killed an illegal alien drug smuggler outside of a residential community along the banks of the Rio Grande in Laredo, Texas. The smuggler, who was in his 30's, was one of many in a group who were carrying a total of 260 pounds of marijuana in 5 bundles. The incident occurred April 2, 2010.
After chasing the group through the brush, the Border Patrol agent got in a struggle with one of the illegal alien smugglers. As things escalated the Border Patrol agent resorted to deadly force and shot the smuggler in the chest. The drug smuggler was later pronounced dead at the scene after efforts to revive him failed.
The names of the Border Patrol agent and the illegal alien drug smuggler have not been released.
Laredo police spokesman Joe Baeza Jr said that they are working with the Mexican Consulate to notify the illegal alien smuggler's family before announcing his identity. He is believed to have been apprehended previously by the Border Patrol for smuggling drugs into the United States.
The other smugglers made it back to the Rio Grande and swam across to the Mexican side escaping.
Investigators say that they believe the smuggler was unarmed. Some would say that this is reason to question the agent's actions. I would just like to point out that in the heat of the moment, and the struggle, that it would be impossible for the Border Patrol agent to know this and all of the facts are not yet in. In addition, we also don't know what occurred in the fight and whether the smuggler tried to grab the agent's weapon. I'm all for an investigation, but I fall on the side of supporting law enforcement over a criminal until proven otherwise.
In the end, this case could come down to the statement of the Border Patrol agent alone, as there is likely no other witnesses. We can only hope that this agent is not railroaded as agents Ramos and Compean were in 2005 on the testimony of known drug smuggler and illegal alien Osvaldo Aldrete Davila. In that case, prosecutor Johnny Sutton chose to believe the word of Davila that he was unarmed and shot for no reason as he fled, rather than the agents who said they saw him turn on them with what they believed to be a gun. After the case Davila was caught smuggling drugs into the US again, he was sentenced to 9 years and 6 months in 2008 and now sits in prison. After much outrage from Americans, Ramos and Compean had their sentences commuted by President Bush on his last day in office in 2009.
Tipped by: Reader Lone Wolf
Source: El Paso Times
Where was the agents back-up? Oh, I fotgot! Obama has cut the number of Border Patrol Agents in agreements with the drug cartel and the Mexican government!!
Why doesn't Obama go down and work the border? Oh, I forgot again! He has never worked a day in his life at any type of physical labor. Has he? And, he can't pass the FBI entrance exam. Or, anyother!
And, this is our President?
Not mine!
Posted by: John Gaines on April 5, 2010 02:32 AM
