Thread: Illegal Immigrant's family sues hunter

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Apr 14, 11:05 AM EDT

Immigrant's Family Sues Hunter Over Death

EL INDIO, Texas (AP) -- The family of a illegal immigrant shot to death on a Texas ranch sued the property owner and a hunter, who allegedly told police he thought the man was a wild hog.

The wrongful death lawsuit seeks $8 million for the family of Celestino Lopez, 36, who died after being shot in the abdomen in January 2004. Prosecutor Roberto Serna said he plans to decide soon whether to present the case to a grand jury.

Lopez, who was from the Mexican state of Guanajuato, had been walking in the dark with other immigrants after entering the United States when they saw a shadowy figure and stopped, according to the lawsuit filed Monday in Eagle Pass.

Jaime Gonzalez shot Lopez from about 150 feet away, the lawsuit claims. He allegedly told police he thought he was shooting at a hog.

The lawsuit against Gonzalez and ranch owner Eduardo Rodriguez alleges the death was "reasonably foreseeable" and that the defendants had a legal duty not to shoot in poor light and without verifying the target was an animal.

An attorney appointed by the Mexican government to represent Lopez's widow and five children said they are tired of waiting on a criminal prosecution.

"At this point, it looks like we are going to have to go to a jury for relief on this case," J.A. Garcia said.

Gonzalez, Rodriguez and their attorneys could not be reached for comment by the San Antonio Express-News.


Last year, the family of an illegal immigrant killed on a ranch near Laredo reached a $15 million settlement with the owner and his ranch hand, who claimed he shot the man after mistaking him for a wild hog.

15M? 8M? If they value their lives so highly why are they in such a risk taking situation? Don't they know that moving around ranches in the dark is a very dangerous thing to do?

RR

This is preposterous. Why do illegal aliens who have no legal rights to be here in the first place have legal rights to have access to our courts? That's ridiculous. He invaded our country and got shot which was unfortunate, but if he hadn't illegally invaded our country then he would still be alive today. Giving 8 million to a family of an illegal alien who's whole family wouldn't be able to make that kind of loot in two hundred years let alone in their lifetimes? Pluhleaze, they probably don't even have 8 dollars to their name and now they are worth 8 million? That's just retarded.

I love how the lawyer for the family of the illegal immigrant who died is provided by the Mexican government. Wait a minute here? Since when does foreign governments have the right to have access to our courts? This is an absolute infringement on our sovereignty. We are so losing our country and we're done if we don't wake up. The fact that foreign nationals and their governments can have access to our courts and sue anyone of us, I mean doesn't anybody find this the least bit freightening?

BTW I'm surprised Bush hasn't sold out our sovereignty to the World Court in the Hague yet, but I'm sure that's coming.

I'm sorry but in the family owned sporting goods store I used to work at HOG only stood for one thing:

"He Ottabe Game"

Sounds like the fact that he thought he was a HOG is true!! Hunters have a different and great way of looking at things -- especially when it comes to wild game. Homeowners do also. If someone was on his property that time of night, he's lucky he just got shot instead of mauled by a bunch of watch dogs!

If he had "No Trespassing" signs posted, they have no case. Not in NC anyway.

I thought I saw a hog. I did, I did, I did, I tell ya!

No trespassing signs..no case..that's true here also. And I keep those signs up everywhere...the trespassers once just tore them down and threw them aside. But now if there are trees, fenceposts, gates, etc. with a wide spray of purple paint...it means the same thing. NO Trespassing!!

I was wondering how they thought they had a case against the rancher since a hunter was responsible for shooting him?

RR

PS..I guess anyone anywhere anytime can sue us. But to my mind..there shouldn't be prosecution in this case.