Man deported through Nogales to face charge of murdering BP agent in Mexico

By the Nogales International
Published Wednesday, July 20, 2011 8:18 PM CDT


A Mexican man wanted in his native country for the murder of an off-duty Border Patrol agent was handed over to Mexican officials in Nogales on Wednesday.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents delivered Jose Arturo Arreola Lopez, 25, to authorities from the Mexican Attorney General's Office, or PGR, at the DeConcini Port of Entry, ICE said in a news release.

Arreola-Lopez is one of four suspects accused of murdering Tucson Sector Border Patrol Agent Jorge Luis Salomon Martinez near Bacocahi, Sonora in February 2003.

Citing Sonoran prosecutors, ICE said the suspects snuck up behind Martinez while he was socializing with others near a river and beat him, pelting him with rocks. They eventually crushed his skull with a 50-pound rock.

Prosecutors believe the men killed Martinez because they knew he was a Border Patrol agent, ICE said.

“ICE is proud to have played a role in ensuring Jose Arreola is held accountable for his actions in this heinous crime,â€