Houstonians Attacked In Mexico
By Robert Arnold

POSTED: Thursday, November 26, 2009
UPDATED: 6:40 am CST November 27, 2009
HOUSTON -- During an annual hunting trip to a small town south of McAllen, nine men were attacked by a group of well armed, organized bandits. The group escaped with its life and a strong word of warning for anyone thinking of traveling south of the border.

WATCH IT: Houstonians Attacked In Mexico

"I think everybody there thought they were going to kill us," said a hunter who asked not to have his identity revealed.

"Adrenaline, fear, anger," said a second hunter. "I was shaking a little bit."

Both men said they were attacked while hunting doves on a ranch just outside of the town of Villa de Mendez in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas, which is about 100 miles south of McAllen.

Both men said they knew about the drug-related violence plaguing many parts of Mexico, but felt safe hunting on this ranch because they had made several trips to this area over the years and never experienced any trouble.

"I hadn't heard anything bad about that area of Mexico," one of the hunters told Local 2 Investigates.

"We thought it was going to be safe in that area," said another member of the hunting party.

Yet, during their hunt last month, Mexico's growing violence touched their their lives.

"Saw a young man, probably 30 yards away from me, pointing an automatic weapon at me and yelling, 'Policia! Policia! We're the police. Lay down, get down, drop your weapon,'" said one hunter.

"At one point I looked ... had a gentleman with an AK-47 about 15 yards away from me pointed right at me," said another hunter.

Both men said at least one of the bandits was dressed like a Mexican federal police officer.

"You know, with a bulletproof vest, M-4 weapon with grenade launcher, radio," said this hunter. "(He) looked, you know, official."

Both hunters said all of the robbers had automatic weapons and radios and never referred to one another by name.

"Colonel, sergeant, jefe. They used kind of military-type terms," said one hunter.

"(They) made us put our hands behind our heads, kneel down on the gravel road and put our heads on the ground," said another hunter.

The men said during the ordeal their attackers repeatedly kicked and punched them. One member of the group was severely hurt.

"I heard a loud thud and a grunt, then another thud and grunt and then another pop," said a hunter recalling the beating given to one of his friends. He said his friends was hit so hard it ruptured one of the discs in his back.

Both men said for an hour and a half the bandits rifled through their belongings and thoroughly interrogated each of the hunters.

"They actually went through everybody's passports and our driver's licenses ... all our credentials as well,' said one hunter.

"I think it was an intimidation thing, you know, like, 'We now know who you are, where you're from and what you do,'" this hunter explained.

The men said one of the most frightening moments came when the leader of the bandits spoke.

"He leaned down and said, 'Senor, just relax, relax,'" this hunter remembered. "That's what they say to the goat right before they make 'cabrito.'"

The man said the man who spoke that phrase spoke perfect English and had no accent.

"In my opinion, he was either an American citizen or he grew up in America," said one hunter.

In all, the group reported it was robbed of $50,000 worth of guns, ammunition, cash, jewelry and liquor. The hunters left with their lives and both said they now understand why their friends warned them not to go.

"I said nothing has happened there, I've been online, I've read the papers. Nothing bad has happened in that area of Mexico. So, when I came back, I had to tell them immediately I was wrong," this hunter told Local 2.

"I'm not going back to Mexico for any reason," said another hunter.

All nine of the hunters filed sworn affidavits with the U.S. State Department, which is investigating the robbery. Still, no one has been able to determine who exactly was responsible for the attack.

If you have a news tip or question for KPRC Local 2 Investigates, drop them an e-mail or call their tipline at (713) 223-TIPS (8477).

Copyright 2009 by Click2Houston.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


http://www.click2houston.com/news/21734602/detail.html