Thread: Border killing 20 years ago changed military tactics

Three grand juries heard evidence but did not indict Banuelos or the other Marines, leaving the Hernandez family bitterly disillusioned.

A review by the Marine Corps found fault with numerous aspects of the covert mission. A House subcommittee led by Rep. Lamar Smith, R-San Antonio, likewise was critical of the Justice Department for its investigation of the killing, which absolved the Marine Corps of wrongdoing.

3 grand juries, a Military investigation, a DOJ investigation ... no fault found. Most people don't get that much attention or that many tries for a prosecution, so ... there's only one fair conclusion under our rule of law and that is the Marine was innocent and had justifiable cause for the shooting. Whether we agree with that cause or not, it's still legal cause and passed 5 official investigations. If he shot at 'em, there would be shell casing evidence if anyone bothered to look. There would also be bullets laying around or stuck in trees or brush or somewhere to be found.

Like I said earlier, we'll never know. The Marine was Hispanic so there was no race or ethnic issue involved.

A .22 rifle is not the weapon of a cartel member. More than likely the boy used it for rattlesnakes. Seems he herded his goats to the river for water every afternoon. An 18 year old with a .22 rifle is not going to shoot at 4 well armed Marines. I think the shooter made a mistake and the U.S. Government covered it up. Guess that's not possible, huh?

Sure, that's possible. Anything is possible. Someone somewhere thought there was at least negligence on the part of the military because the government paid the family $1.9 million for their loss.