US border police shot dead man: Mexico

Looks like this happened Monday night.

Mexico wants shooting explained
By Miguel Timoshenkov, Laredo Morning Times
Updated 12:29 a.m., Thursday, September 6, 2012

The Mexican government is demanding the U.S. explain conflicting versions of the story surrounding the death of a Nuevo Laredo man allegedly shot and killed by a Border Patrol agent riding in a boat on the Rio Grande on Monday night.

According to the victim's family, Guillermo Arévalo Pedroza, 36, was at a park by the riverbank in Nuevo Laredo, grilling fajitas with his wife and children when he was shot in the chest and leg.

~snip~
According to a report given to Mexican authorities by the family, Arévalo was in an area called the “skating rink” at Viveros Park, near Colosio Boulevard, grilling fajitas for his wife, Nora Isabel Lam, 26, and his two kids, whose ages were not available.

The source said the family heard gunfire when suddenly Arévalo dropped dead.

More:
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Mexico-wants-shooting-explained-3843264.php#ixzz25g5rdCEC

and inexcusable, but the headline does not translate very well from French (?).

While I don't mind people having guns and am have them myself - this country has gone stupid.

It really has gone back to the days of the wild west where someone shoots first and asks questions later.
America had gotten past that stage and was respected world-wide - now other countries are looking at us and shaking their heads - our law enforcement authorities are over-reacting time and again. We need to ask ourselves why do our police and other law enforcement groups need para-military equipment and why are they so quick to "beat down" on others in circumstances that don't warrant it.

Mexico is correct - if this happened the other way around all hell would have broken lose.

Condolences to Mr. Arevalo's family.

Thank you, Pakistan Times for making things so transparent.

What is the reporter supposed to say if the circumstances are not clear? Nothing?

When he was felled by a bullet fired by the US Border Patrol.

The uncertainty seems to be around what provoked the Border Patrol. Sounds like maybe someone was throwing rocks at them. But I know a better way of avoiding getting hit by a rock than spraying gunfire: Back up a few yards.

If you aren't sure what you are shooting at or where your bullet will go if it misses or fully penetrates the target, you don't shoot.

If the BP agent(s) shot someone who was not doing anything threatening, that is a massive and inexcusable screw-up.

Here is one account from UPI:


Here's another version from KSAT:


In one version the group heard the commotion but could not tell what was going on. In another account they watched the incident and yelled at Border Patrol agents. The later version seems to put Arevalo within rock throwing range, although his widow insists he did not participate in the attack against the agents.

Now consider this tidbit from yet another source:


It appears there is a video of the incident. If so, and if the video is legible, maybe we'll get to the bottom of this.

Update: This is where Guillermo Arevalo was standing when he was shot.



http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Father-shot-by-border-agent-while-holding-his-3848597.php#photo-3422982

Video of the event here: #!

the facts to come out before i go running at it.

Part of the problem is, reporters can never seem to get the story straight - even if they interview witnesses who do.

it seems like there was a time that cops shot people in the leg to stop them, or tasered someone. Now, its "step out of line" and they have a license to mow you down. Getting too much like Germany in the 30s.