Police: Casa Grande Streets See Drug-Related Killing
Victim Feared Cartel Retaliation, Police Say

POSTED: 6:16 pm MST October 26, 2010
UPDATED: 6:45 pm MST October 26, 2010

CASA GRANDE, Ariz. -- Pinal County sheriff's deputies responded to several shots fired calls late Monday night in Casa Grande. In the area, they said they found a car in the middle of the roadway and found 31-year-old Roberto Raya-Ortiz shot multiple times inside the car.

Witnesses told deputies an older model Chevrolet Impala pulled up next to Raya-Ortiz and shot several times into his car before speeding away.

When deputies notified the victim's family, relatives told deputies that Raya-Ortiz had been fearful of Mexico drug cartel retaliation. They explained that he was involved in drug trafficking from Mexico and that the cartels felt he was a "snitch." Relatives also told deputies that Raya-Ortiz was in the United States illegally. He was awaiting a deportation hearing.

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