06/22/11 — President Felipe Calderón is calling on Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to punish those responsible for the death of José Alfredo Yáñez Reyes, a 40-year old Mexican man who was shot in the head by a Border Patrol agent earlier this week. His death occurred on the U.S.-Mexico border in Tijuana on International Avenue on Tuesday night when he attempted to cross the border illegally into the United States. President Calderón stated on his Twitter account that this was an act of border violence where a Mexican citizen was killed on Mexican territory and is asking for an explanation from the U.S. government.
The incident allegedly began when a Border Patrol agent discovered three men that had crossed the border and were asking for help. Another agent arrived at the scene and two of the men fled back to Mexico while the third resisted his arrest. The two men that had fled, one of them being Yáñez Reyes, began throwing rocks at the agents, one of which struck an agent in the head. In turn, the agent fired a gun shot, which supposedly hit Yáñez Reyes in the head and killed him. His body was found next to the metal fence separating the border and was identified by his girlfriend, Mayra Paredes, in the Municipal Police Station in Tijuana.
Both Mexican and U.S. authorities have begun separate investigations of the incident. The Attorney General of the Republic (Procuraduría General de la República, PGR) and the Attorney General of Baja California (Procuraduría General de Justicia del Estado de Baja California) are focusing on compiling evidence on the death, while the Unit of Homicides of the Department of the Police of San Diego is focusing on the relation of the Border Patrol agent in Yáñez Reyes’ killing. The Unit of Homicides has said that they would not release the suspected agent’s name, but did say that he/she has served for three years. Fermín Gómez Gómez, the Deputy Justice of Baja California, said that the shot, the loss of a life, and the killing of anyone cannot be justified for a situation of this nature, especially one involving the throwing of rocks.
Sources:
“México exige explicación por mexicano asesinado en línea fronteriza.” Prensa Latina. June 22, 2011.
Ramos, Jorge. “FCH reclama a Clinton por muerte de mexicano.” El Universal. June 22, 2011.
It is outrageous that US border agents cannot defend themselves against attack. Thrown rocks can seriously injure or even kill a person. “Stoning” is killing by throwing rocks! Anyone who attacks a border agent should know that action can cost him his life. Maybe then our agents–and our border–would be a little safer.
Throwing Rocks kill people. Rocks are a deadly weapon.
Muslims use them to kill Jews all the time in Israel.
Perhaps Muslims living in Mexico are now teaching the Mexicans to throw rocks too, because they can sometimes kill a person.