Thread: Reward for border agent killer expanded

Reward for border agent killer expanded
Published: Aug. 11, 2009 at 11:00 PM

CAMPO, Calif., Aug. 11 (UPI) -- A manhunt for the killers of a U.S. border patrol agent in Campo, Calif., has been beefed up with more reward money, border patrol officials said.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection's $250,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the killer of Agent Robert Rosas July 23 is in addition to the FBI reward offer of $110,000, The Orange County Register reported Tuesday.

Rosas was shot several times and killed as he was tracking a several people in the region of Shockey Truck Trail, a desolate area known for its drug and human smuggling. Border patrol agents found Rosas' body near his vehicle.

Mexican officials said they are holding five suspects in connection with the incident.

www.upi.com

I'm going to homepage this and put it out to our national supporter network tomorrow.

W

This may not be so recent as it sounds, I apologize.

Please see this thread which we homepaged before:

http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-165896.html

Tuesday, August 11, 2009
$250,000 reward offered in border agent's death
By CINDY CARCAMO
The Orange County Register
Comments 21| Recommend 1

Border Patrol officials are hoping that an extra $250,000 reward will entice someone to give information leading to the arrest and conviction of one of their agent's killers.

The July 23 fatal shooting of U.S. Border Patrol Agent Robert Rosas in Campo sparked an international manhunt for the killer or killers.

Officials have said that Rosas drove his vehicle in the area of Shockey Truck Trail to track a group of people just before he was shot.

After agents heard gunshots and unsuccessfully tried to contact Rosas, they rushed to the area – a barren, desert area known for human and drug smuggling.

The agents found Rosas' body near his vehicle. Officials said he'd been shot several times. The 30-year-old left behind a wife and two young children.

Mexican officials told The Associated Press that they have detained five men in connection with the case.

Mexican officials told the news service that Ernesto Parra Valenzuela, 36, had a 9mm pistol when he was captured walking alone near the scene of the shooting. Mexican officials told AP that Parra admitted he was a migrant smuggler when local police found him about five hours after the shooting, but he denied any involvement with Rosas' death.

However, FBI officials who are leading the investigation, have not publicly identified any suspects.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection reward is in addition to the FBI's $110,000 reward offer.

Mission Viejo resident and Campo Minuteman Britt Craig, who said he witnessed the killing, applauded the agency's effort but doubted the reward's effectiveness.

"I know there are a lot of real good people trying real hard… I know that every border patrol member wants to get these people, and it's not about money," Craig said. "But I really think that if these (suspects) were connected with a criminal organization and brought that much heat on themselves they'd probably be dead in Mexico without a trace."

Anyone with information about the killing can contact the FBI at 858-565-1255. The person providing information may remain anonymous, border officials said.

www.ocregister.com