Thread: Mexico teen killed by US Border Patrol, anger high

Mexico teen killed by US Border Patrol, anger high
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By CHRISTOPHER SHERMAN and OLIVIA TORRES, Associated Press Writers Christopher Sherman And Olivia Torres, Associated Press Writers – 11 mins ago
CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico – A U.S. Border Patrol agent fatally shot a 15-year-old Mexican boy after a group trying to illegally enter Texas threw rocks at officers near downtown El Paso, U.S. authorities said Tuesday.

The shooting, which happened Monday evening beneath a railroad bridge linking the two nations, drew sharp criticism from Mexico, where the government said Tuesday that "the use of firearms to repel attacks with stones represents disproportionate use of force, particularly coming from authorities who have received specialized training."

It was the second death of a Mexican at the hands of Border Patrol officers in less than two weeks, and the case threatened to swell into a full-blown international incident when U.S. and Mexican officials traded suggestions of misconduct.

Arturo Sandoval, a spokesman for the Chihuahua Attorney General's office, said a spent 40-mm shell was found near the body — raising the question of whether the fatal shot was fired inside Mexico, although he did not explicitly make that suggestion. That would violate the rules for Border Patrol agents, who are supposed to stay on the U.S. side of the border.

A U.S. official, meanwhile, said video shows the Border Patrol agent did not enter Mexico.

The official, who agreed to discuss the matter only if not quoted by name, said the video also shows what seem to be four Mexican law enforcement officers driving to the edge of the dry but muddy bed of the Rio Grande, walking across to the U.S. side, picking up an undetermined object and returning to Mexico near the area where the boy's body was. Like their U.S. counterparts, Mexican law officers are not authorized to cross the border without permission.

According to the FBI, Border Patrol agents were responding to a group of suspected illegal immigrants being smuggled into the U.S. near the Paso Del Norte bridge, across from Ciudad Juarez around 6:30 p.m. Monday.

One suspected illegal immigrant was detained on the levee on the U.S. side, the FBI said in a statement. Another Border Patrol agent arrived on the concrete bank where the now-dry, 33-feet (10-meter) wide Rio Grande is, and detained a second suspect. Other suspects ran back into Mexico and began throwing rocks, the FBI said.

At least one rock came from behind the agent, who was kneeling beside the suspected illegal immigrant who he had prone on the ground, FBI spokeswoman Andrea Simmons said.

The agent told the rock throwers to stop and back off, but they continued. The agent fired his weapon several times, hitting one who later died, said the FBI, which is leading the investigation because it involved an assault on a federal officer. The agent was not injured, Simmons said.

Border Patrol Special Operations Supervisor Ramiro Cordero said preliminary reports showed Border Patrol agents on bicycle patrol "were assaulted with rocks by an unknown number of people."

"During the assault at least one agent discharged his firearm," he said. "The agent is currently on administrative leave. A thorough, multi-agency investigation is currently ongoing."

Chihuahua State officials released a statement Tuesday demanding a full investigation into the death of the boy, identified as Sergio Adrian Hernandez Huereca.

The boy was shot once near the eye, Sandoval said. Authorities are still investigating the bullet's trajectory, he said.

Sandoval said he couldn't comment on the video reported by the U.S. official because he didn't know anything about it.

"I am unaware about those hypotheses," he said. "What I can tell you is that there is an ongoing investigation."

Sandoval said investigators were questioning three teenagers who were with the victim at the time of the shooting.

The boy's sister, Rosario Hernandez, told Associated Press Television News that her brother was playing with several friends and did not plan to cross the border.

"They say that they started firing from over there and suddenly hit him in the head," she said Monday.

His mother, Maria Guadalupe Huereca, told Milenio TV in Mexico that her son had gone to visit his brother, who handles luggage at a border customs office. While there, he met up with a group of friends and they decided to hang out by the river, she said.

"That was his mistake, to have gone to the river," she said. "That's why they killed him."

She said he ran and hid underneath one of the bridge's pillars upon hearing gunfire.

"He was a boy, and even then they killed him," she said. "I ask that they punish them. ... They left me without anything."

Sergio Belmonte, spokesman for the Ciudad Juarez mayor, said state justice officials were performing an autopsy before releasing the body to the family.

Mexico's Foreign Relations Department said it "energetically condemns" the shooting and demanded "an expeditious and transparent investigation of the facts and, if applicable, punishment of the guilty."

"Mexico is aware of the existing risks in the region, but, according to international standards, lethal force must be used only when the lives of people are in immediate danger and not as a dissuasive measure," it said.

The department said its records indicated the number of Mexicans killed or wounded by immigration authorities rose from five in 2008 to 12 in 2009 to 17 so far this year, which is not half over.

T.J. Bonner, president of the union representing Border Patrol agents, said rock throwing aimed at Border Patrol agents are common and capable of causing serious injury.

"It is a deadly force encounter, one that justifies the use of deadly force," Bonner said.

The violence in Mexico combined with assaults on Border Patrol agents in the U.S. has increased the level of apprehension agents have about their safety, Bonner said.

Less than two weeks ago, Mexican migrant Anastacio Hernandez, 32, died after a Customs and Border Protection officer shocked him with a stun gun at the San Ysidro border crossing that separates San Diego and Tijuana, Mexico.

Last week the San Diego medical examiner's office ruled that death a homicide.

Sad circumstances, however just another sob story about illegals. The news article fails to mention how many venezuelan and guatamalans are killed by mexicans or how about american tourists that are kidnapped, sold in human trafficing and killed? Mexico just bosses America around now, demands demands demands thats all they ever do is demand. But when it comes to them on the spot they have no answers.

Now I suppose they will take the the use of guns away from border patrol like they didn't let the national guard use their guns.

Mexico has zero respect for our government or the people here. Complete and total disrespect. It is only going to get worst.

Border Patrol Agent Shot & Killed in San Diego's East County
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQgXCTfOJfY

Border Guard Killed by Fleeing Vehicle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLp6lh66 ... re=related

Attacks on US Border Patrol Agents in San Diego, CA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zD6cN14X ... re=related

And on and on... Sympathizers say that with sensible immigration policies this all could be avoided... What the hell are they talking about...legally allowing them to bring drugs over?

This is a sad situation and I feel very sorry for the 15 yr. olds mother.

I wish the BP could use some other method to combat rock throwing although I know it can be deadly.

Won't rubber bullets cause rock throwers to disperse ?

No one in the United States said anything to Mexico when an American was killed in Mexico while smuggling Cubans in through Mexico. The man was from Hialeah. The Cubans were arrested and then deported.

I have no sympathy for punks who instigate violence. Why is this 14 yr old in the border with smugglers in the first place? the only reason i can think of is that this kid is trying to break the law by trespassing. there is no reason being in the border of US/Mexico if you're not going to do anything criminal. This kid was throwing rocks at Border Patrols to fend them off, so the BP has every right to retaliate back. This kid only did it to himself. No sympathy whats so ever. how many American citizens die in the hands of illegals across the USA - from California to New York from Chicago to AZ? THOUSANDS compare to 5 illegals at the border who provoke!

Arturo Sandoval, a spokesman for the Chihuahua Attorney General's office, said a spent 40-mm shell was found near the body — raising the question of whether the fatal shot was fired inside Mexico, although he did not explicitly make that suggestion.

The official, who agreed to discuss the matter only if not quoted by name, said the video also shows what seem to be four Mexican law enforcement officers driving to the edge of the dry but muddy bed of the Rio Grande, walking across to the U.S. side, picking up an undetermined object and returning to Mexico near the area where the boy's body was. Like their U.S. counterparts, Mexican law officers are not authorized to cross the border without permission.

This makes me suspicious that the Mexican police were tampering with evidence to create liability.

Many of the IAs that cross are in their teens and their families don't mind as long as they send money.

I smell a lawsuit coming.

I'm sorry for the death of this boy, but if he wasn't planning to sneak in WHY did his mother ALLOW him to "play" in an area known for illegal drug trafficking, illegal crossings and other violence?

I wonder how old this kid looked. Not all 15 years olds look like kids, especially from a distance. The BP were under attack and I think they had no choice but to defend themselves. Any one of those rocks could be a grenade or bomb....how are they suppose to know? I think they did what they had to do under the circumstances.