Trigger happy border patrol...
(CNN) -- Amnesty International has joined the ranks of those criticizing the U.S. Border Patrol, calling for a "full, impartial and transparent investigation" into a shooting this week that left a 15-year-old Mexican boy dead.
"This shooting across the border appears to have been a grossly disproportionate response and flies in the face of international standards which compel police to use firearms only as a last resort, in response to an immediate, deadly threat that cannot be contained through lesser means," said Susan Lee, Americas director at Amnesty International, in a statement Wednesday on the organization's website.
The Mexican government also has requested a quick and public investigation into the fatal shooting at the border between El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, on Monday night. The teen was shot during a rock-throwing incident, Mexican and U.S. officials said.
On Wednesday, State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said the United States will ensure a thorough investigation.
"We pledge that (the) investigation will be fully transparent," he said.
"We understand the concern that they have about not just this incident, but multiple incidents where we've had tragic loss of life at the border," Crowley added.
A long-term solution to avoid these kind of incidents would be the passage of comprehensive immigration reform, he said.
Border Patrol agents responded to a call of a possible immigrant smuggling taking place on the border, the FBI said. The agents were able to apprehend two suspects while others crossed back into Mexico and threw rocks at an agent, who then fired shots.
Sergio Adrian Hernandez Huereca was killed by a shot to the head, officials said.
It was unclear whether Hernandez was on the U.S. or Mexican side of the border when he was shot, though his body was found on the Mexican side, the FBI said.
There were videocameras in the area that the FBI is reviewing, El Paso FBI spokeswoman Andrea Simmons said.
Simmons said the FBI will decline further comment until the investigation is complete. The agency's version of events is based not just on the Border Patrol's statements but on interviews with civilians and other evidence, Simmons said.
"I don't want it to seem like it was one-sided information," she said.
The border patrol agent "was a coward. He shouldn't have done that because my son was in Mexico, not the United States," Hernandez's mother, Maria Guadalupe Huereca, told CNN en Espa?ol on Wednesday.
The boy was not going to cross into the United States, she said.
Instead, he had gone to visit his brother, who works for the Mexican customs agency, to pick up some money so he could by school supplies, Huereca said. After picking up the money, the boy went near the international bridge, where he hid behind a pillar when the shots rang out, she said.
"If (the border patrol agent) has children, he will see my child's face when he killed him," Huereca said. "May God forgive him for what he did to my son."
The shooting comes less than two weeks after the May 31 death of a Mexican illegal immigrant who had been detained three days earlier by border agents in California.
San Diego police, who are investigating the death of Anastasio Hernandez, said he was beaten with a baton and shot with a stun gun after he became combative. California medical officials ruled his death a homicide.
The investigation in that case continues.
Border Patrol bears increased criticism over death - CNN.com
Re: Trigger happy border patrol...
I've been highly critical of law enforcement on here in the past, BUT in this case I think we need to wait on a lot more information before making any judgements.
It now appears certain that the story of the boy being a totally innocent bystander is completely bogus. I haven't been following the story too closely, mostly just reading posts on another forum. But, it now appears that the kid had ties to drug runners, had previous run-ins with law enforcement and was throwing baseball sized rocks at the agent who shot him. A rock of that size is a deadly weapon. The border agent has a duty (NOT) to retreat, so he was in a bind. Get stoned to death or defend himself.
It is now also being reported that Mexican military pointed weapons across the border at both border patrol agents and FBI agents. It is now also being reported that video exists showing Mexican authorities dragging (something) back across the border, after having crossed into the U.S.
It's just too early to say the agent did anything wrong.
Re: Trigger happy border patrol...
Some reports say the shell casing was in Mexico, but it appears as though video from reports show that mexican border patrol came across to the US side, picked something up and placed it near the body, which looks like makes it appear as though the shell casing was planted.
Re: Trigger happy border patrol...
Oh, like I said I haven't really been following this too closely. That makes sense and is in line with traditional Mexican law enforcement procedure.
Re: Trigger happy border patrol...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Gotch
That makes sense and is in line with traditional Mexican law enforcement procedure.
Now your just being racist. Yes I have put on the blinders and switched sides.
Re: Trigger happy border patrol...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
TheBeast
Now your just being racist. Yes I have put on the blinders and switched sides.
This may require an exorcism.........
Re: Trigger happy border patrol...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Gotch
This may require an exorcism.........
He is a good guy and we have to save him. :DI'll start the ritual.
The site I got a story from says the border patrol has video of the Mexs taking something back across the border, to a spot near the body. I have no doubt that , if I had ever rocked the VSP while on a picket line, they would have shot me.:D For free, too.
Re: Trigger happy border patrol...
CNN reported tonight that the kid has a history of involvement with human trafficking.
Also that video exists of the agent having large rocks thrown at him. It was mentioned by some law enforcement bigwig that the scenario does fall into the category of appropriate use of deadly force.
Re: Trigger happy border patrol...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
simple man
He is a good guy and we have to save him. :DI'll start the ritual.
I'm afraid we might have to use Inquisition tactics on him to drive out evil/liberal spirits strong enough to cause this.
Re: Trigger happy border patrol...
Yeah, if it was me- it wouldn't be as bad. But I've never seen the Beast lean to the left- he'll be going in circles forever if someone doesn't help him.