Three Americans Killed in Baja on Three Separate Occasions

Reported by: Antonio Castelan
Email: antonio.castelan@sandiego6.com
Last Update: 9:08 pm

TIJUANA - The deadly gun battles in Tijuana and Rosarito have taken the lives of three U.S. citizens. These killings happened on three separate occasions in the last month. One San Diego family is mourning their loss.

Alejandra Rodriguez lost her brother Tony Acevedo. She said, "He was a good man. He was a working man. He worked for his family."

27-year old San Diego native Tony Acevedo lost his life in a brutal ambush on a Rosarito street with his 7-year old son and 6-year old daughter sleeping in the back of their SUV back on april 30th.

The Petco Park security guard and father of three had just finished taking his kids to a Rosarito movie theater. Mexican authorities say drug cartel members riddled his 2001 Dodge Durango with bullets. His kids escaped unscathed.

Rodriguez said, "I always thought that bad things happen to people that are involved in drugs. I always thought that innocent people didn't have to go through what we are going through."

Alejandra Rodriguez did not want to appear on camera fearing retribution from the drug cartel. Rodriguez says her brother didn't deserve this violent death.

Rodriguez said, "It is something you can't belileve. Can't believe that somebody that never did harm to anybody."

Rosarito authorities support Rodriguez's claim.

Rafael Gonzalez with the Baja Attorney General's office said, "(Acevedo) was mistakenly targeted as a drug cartel member, because of the SUV he was driving. Investigators say the cartel was looking for a man in the same type of vehicle."

On May 3rd another U.S. Citizen - - 30-year old David Garcia was found shot outside the Pueblo Amigo Hotel. A hotel just yards away from the San Ysidro Port of Entry.

Then on May 22nd U.S. Citizen 27-year old Artemio Gonzalez, Jr. was killed at a parking lot of Bar Dubai. A popular club frequented by Americans. A bar only a few yards away from the U.S. Port of entry. Acevedo's family feels people should re-think heading south across the border.

Rodriguez said, "Yeah...We shouldn't go to Mexico. They can't even tell who is innocent or who is not."

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