UTB-TSC student gunned down in Tamaulipas
Comments 20
October 06, 2010 2:57 PM
The Brownsville Herald

Officials from UTB-TSC have confirmed that one of its students has died in Tamaulipas.

Letty Fernandez, spokeswoman for the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College, identified the student as Jonathon William Torres Cazares, 18, and confirmed that he had been attending UTB-TSC this semester.

According to a statement released by UTB-TSC, Torres died last Thursday in Tamaulipas Mexico while traveling in Mexico visiting his family.

In an interview with the Brownsville Herald, Dr. Juliet Garcia extended her condolences to the family.

"We are all greatly saddened by the loss of what we consider one of our family."

Garcia said that she didn’t know the circumstances surrounding the student’s death.

She noted that Torres was not on a university-related trip.

"We had stopped all university related trips to Mexico several months ago as a result of what we had suspected to be a very dangerous environment for a while," Garcia said.

"My concerns are for the students and the faculty," UTB-TSC’s president said.

United States officials in Matamoros also commmented on the student's death.

“The U.S. Consulate General in Matamoros confirms the death of the U.S. Citizen Jonathon William Torres. We are in touch with the family and are offering all consular services available. The Consulate General in Matamoros expresses its condolences for this tragic loss, said Consulate spokesman Brian Quigley.

Other officials have said that Torres was gunned down and that his death is connected to the ongoing violence in Mexico.

Torres was riding on a bus that had apparently been hijacked, Mexican officials said.

Mexican officials report there have been an increase in hijackings on Mexican highways.

Another Mexican official -with first hand knowledge of criminal activites ongoing in Mexico - said authorities can only guarantee the safety of passenger buses from sunrise until 2 p.m.

Torres was a freshman at UTB-TSC and was pursuing an Associates of Arts degree. He was born in Dahlonega, Ga.

The university reports counseling services will be available for students through Student Health Services.

The Brownsville Herald website will provide updates when additional information is available.

Herald report Emma Perez-Trevino contributed to this report.


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