A body, lies under the area known as "Puente Negro", below Paso del Norte international bridge, Juárez Downtown. (Special to the Times)
The 15-year-old boy shot dead by a Border Patrol agent at 6:30 PM Monday evening near the Paso del Norte bridge was part of a group that entered the United States illegally, agency administrators said today.
Special Operation Supervisor Ramiro Cordero said border patrol agents on bikes were assaulted Monday night by rock-throwing members of the group. He said members of the group entered the United States through a gap in the border fence.
They threw rocks at agents, Cordero said. Then one of the agents fired at the group.
The Border Patrol agent fired his gun several times, FBI officials said.
The agent shot at the group of Mexican nationals who had illegally crossed into the U.S. after they surrounded him and threw rocks at him, said Special Agent Andrea Simmons, spokeswoman for the FBI in El Paso
The agent who shot Huereca had a .40-caliber pistol on him. He may have had additional weapons, too, Cordero said.
"Every agent is issued a .40-caliber pistol and available to us is a series of long arms and that includes shotguns and machine guns, and on top of that pepper spray and tasers," he said.
Agents only have access to weapons that they have been trained to use and they go through training quarterly, Cordero said.
The Border Patrol did not identify the agent who fired. He has been placed on paid leave, Cordero said.
Chihuahua state officials said today that the boy shot dead was Sergio Adrian Hernandez Huereca, a Mexican national. They asked for a full investigation of the shooting.
The Mexican Secretary of State today condemned the death. Mexican officials said they want the U.S. to conduct a full investigation into the events that prompted the shooting.
The use of firearms in response to a rock attack is a "disproportionate use of force," Mexican officials said.
The number of Mexican nationals who have been killed or injured by border agents has increased in the last few years from five in 2008 to 12 in 2009. There have been 17 Mexican nationals killed or injured during the first six months of 2010, officials said.
don't throw rocks at bp agents and you won't get shot at pendejos
ReplyDeleteDear Mexican Officials... have you people throw rocks at your head, your family and loved ones, to see if it hurts and/or kills you/them... then judge to see if using deadly force is ""disproportionate use of force," or not...
ReplyDeleteThats why they call them one time!
ReplyDeleteTell them the investigation was done when the rocks started flying. Show some respect. If we threw rocks at your soldiers they wouldn't just stand there either.
ReplyDeletetry a simple google search of
ReplyDelete"rock thrown injury" and "rock thrown death" you will see why the officer responded the way he did.
I have a question. what did the parents of this boy teach their child? I have lived a long long time and i have never thrown a rock at a person. I did use rocks to remove a wild pack of dogs from my property and it was very effective.
I think the Mexican government should show as much concern for the three teens shot in Reynosa as this one. They call for a "full investigation" when it involves a BP agent but when it involves their own military it resolves and concludes when the bodies loaded in the ambulance.
ReplyDeleteThe agent was on a bicycle surrounded by illegals throwing rocks. The rocks were probably big enough to cause severe injury or death if thrown accurately at the head. I would have feared for my life if in that situation! I would have done the same if in his boots. Good judgement! I think the Mexican government should be expending their energies looking for the 3 young girls kidnaped in Piedras Negras last week who were never heard from again!
ReplyDeleteMexican Gov needs to worry about their own problems. Life of loss is tragic but don't do the crime if you can't do the time
ReplyDeleteThe Mex. nationals had crossed into the US illegally while committing another illegal act " assaulting a US Federal Agent " End of story. Mexico, now do your job and hunt down the real tugs in your nation.
ReplyDeleteok, was the bp agent supposed to engage in a counter rock throwing fight with these illegals??? i think not...
ReplyDeleteIt's simple, people. The United States is one big police state. You mess with the authorities, you will be handled with accordingly. Police use excessive deadly force all the time, and get away with it. Their training exempts them from prosecution. It's like an insurance policy. As long as you went through the training, you can do whatever you want under the guise of the law. I don't know what there is to investigate.
ReplyDeleteBrings a new meaning to.
ReplyDelete"Dont bring rocks, to a Gun fight!"
ignorant pieces of shit!!!!!!!!!!!! they were rocks not bullets!!!!!!!!! Give a fake ass latino a Border Patrol badge and they think they are allowed to do anything to the immigrants!!!! sad sad!!!!!! And the sad part thats how all the texan bp's are!!! think they are the shit!!!!! yes i am a us citizen buddies!!!!
ReplyDeleteYou all are very quick to open your mouths without knowing the facts. Idk what did or didn't happen but how easy would it be for the bp agents to have just shot the kid in cold blood and say "let's tell the boss the kid was throwing rocks at us and that's why we shot him!"
ReplyDeleteyou shouldn't be disrespectful a life was lost just as important of a life as the kids killed in reynosa or any Mexican, American, or Chinese kid that passed away. Show some respect.
The Mexican Secretary of State today condemned the death. Mexican officials said they want the U.S. to conduct a full investigation into the events that prompted the shooting.
ReplyDeleteThe use of firearms in response to a rock attack is a "disproportionate use of force," Mexican officials said.
get out of here, what a distraction, noone can kill people like the Mexican government can. If this happened in Mex, they would have put a gun in the kids hand and called him a sicario. But instead, this POS, who was illegally crossing, and trying to hurt border patrol. he got what he deserved, too bad his buddies didn't.
1-What part of "ROCKS KILL" do you not understand
ReplyDelete2-Mommy and Daddy should be proud that thier son is an alien smuggler. Where were they?
3-You have so-called videos, put-up or shut-up
4-To anonymous: Igonorant piece of shiiiii as he said. The ignorant one is you, and you should be ashamed to call yourself a USC if your thinking like you do, pendejo
No one here knows how to read apparently. The article states that the rocks were thrown at "agents." You can't possibly expect me to believe that a group of trained and certified grown men armed with guns, tasers, and pepper spray could not handle the threat of a few people throwing rocks? If this is the case then its no wonder why our borders are in such terrible shape. Its clear that the BP agent overreacted. Even if his first reaction was to pull his sidearm and not choose a less deadly alternative, he could have fired warning shots. I highly doubt that the rocks would continue to fly after a few bullets into the air.
ReplyDeleteThe Border Patrol has no business patrolling on bicycles. You can't contain a criminal in a bicycle. A bicycle won't protect you from propelled rocks. This wouldn't have happened if he was in a reinforced Tahoe like the used in San Diego. This doesn't give pendejos the right to try to kill agents with rocks! What the hell was he suppose to do. Leave his gun in his holster and start looking for rocks???!
ReplyDeleteRocks are not the same as bullets... really? That is not a fair comparison, how about you google, bullet injuries?? I completely agree with the Mexican government this was a total "disproportionate use of force." Border Patrol are a bunch of red necks with big guns told that these people want to hurt the U.S. When these people only want a better life for their familes. This is ridiculous. Border Patrol Agents if you are so worried about the nations safety how about you go into the army or the marines and fight overseas.
ReplyDeleteKids, don't screw around with a person who's carrying a gun! I would have done the same thing! If the "little darling" decides to "tag" my car or house, he will have a chance to prove
ReplyDeletehis/her ability to outrun my .25 or .38! It's so
simple, teach your kids to respect/obey the law, respect police/border patrol agents and we'll all get along.
I am shocked by the ignorance of some of the posts. To begin with, the boy was on the Mexican side of the border and not on U.
ReplyDeleteS. soil as the article states. As Americans we have to quit living a double standard. We want to police the world and punish countries that do not abide by "our" human rights standards, yet when we do something inexcusable, we always seem to have a justification for our actions. Why do you think the world is becoming such a dangerous place for Americans. It is not that the rest of the world that is envious of us, as so many of my buddies believe, it is due to our double standard, pseudo-morality and sheer arrogance that has make us the enemy.
I note a couple of things in the picture, which I assume is the feet of the boy. There is a short handled sledge hammer and a piece of rope. I suspect these were used to break a hole in the border fence.
ReplyDeleteNow if the Border Patrol wishes to avoid the use of deadly force against rock throwing in the future, then all members need to have tazers as well as firearms and possibly trained police dogs, and patrol in pairs or even larger groups, and have backup available within 3 minutes after an alarm is given.
Otherwise an outnumbered and single border patrol agent must use deadly force.
Given the situation south of the border and the increasing violence, we can only expect that incidents such as this are going to increase in number. As Mexican government increases pressure on the cartels, it is likely that the same cartels or their members will cross the border to the United States bring their violence with them.
In short I believe we are entering a whole new era of increased violence on the US side of the border, that is going to take increased resources to counter. I wish this administration would recognize this fact.
IF THE MEXICAN GOV IS SO CONSERN ABOUT THEIR PEOPLE HOW COME THEY DON'T DO ANYTHING YO STOP THE VIOLANCE IN THE BORDER.ALSO THEIR MILITARY ARE MOSTLY CRIMINALS SINCE MOST OF THE KILLING OF INOCENT PEOPLE ARE DONE BY THEMLOTS OF PEOPLE FROM TX. HAVE BEEN KILLED IN TAMPS.JUST FOR BEEN IN THE WRONG PLACE AT THE WRONG TIME AND I DON'T HERE THATTHE MEXICAN GOV IS INVESTIGATING.
ReplyDeleteTo the guy that said....,"You can't possibly expect me to believe that a group of trained and certified grown men armed with guns, tasers, and pepper spray could not handle the threat of a few people throwing rocks?," It is obvious that you have never had people throw rocks at you. Don't talk of what you know nothing about.
ReplyDeleteTo the last post. I see nowhere on in the article that the boys were on the mexican side, infact it says that "He said members of the group entered the United States through a gap in the border fence" FYI some 15 yr old boys can throw a baseball between 60-80 MPH I wonder what a rock clocks at? Sorry the boy was shot but maybe better parenting and the boy is never there is the first place.
ReplyDeleteThe kids father is probably in the biz. NarcoBiz that is. Just saying, when someone throws a rock a someone else the goal is to hurt them.
ReplyDeleteWhat an idiot if you think the agent should have thrown rocks back!
ReplyDeleteWhat was the boy doing there? There are plenty of 15 year old smugglers, coyotes, guides, look-outs, etc. That kid was up to no good. Unfortunately, it is a way of life in the border. The parents knew exactly what he was up to: Trying to make a quick, easy buck!
I hope this sets an example to all.
I have had the opportunity to cross the border hundreds of times in the last 8 years. I find the BP always courteous, hard working, and believe me they treat people much nicer than the Mexican border guards. Plus you guys don't know what they have to put up with. These "boys" serving our borders have an incredibly dangerous job just as other law enforcement officers or even soldiers. I have seen extra ordinary acts of kindness to even Mexican nationals who are in trouble. On the other hand, I have seen both Americans and Mexican nationals try and screw with them; well don't. Perhaps you people would like the Mexican soldiers to guard your border. Perhaps just like the soldiers who just watched a taco vendor in Juarez being murdered at the border crossing and stood around and did nothing.
ReplyDeleteIt is sad whenever a young person dies. It is even sadder that the youth learn this behavior from adults who egg them on.
Wake up ....
You live by violence you die by violence.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous said...-Border Patrol are a bunch of red necks with big guns told that these people want to hurt the U.S. When these people only want a better life for their familes.
ReplyDeleteJune 9, 2010 12:06 PM written by idiot
followed by jackasses comment
Anonymous said...
ignorant pieces of shit!!!!!!!!!!!! they were rocks not bullets!!!!!!!!! Give a fake ass latino a Border Patrol badge and they think they are allowed to do anything to the immigrants!!!! sad sad!!!!!! And the sad part thats how all the texan bp's are!!! think they are the shit!!!!! yes i am a us citizen buddies!!!!
June 9, 2010 8:44 AM
SO its fake latinos, and rednecks with big guns that are protecting the borders? whoever posted those comments, trying to blame both race and are obviously ignorant.
This kid who was shot was a known and documented human smuggler, look it up, i dont give a shit what he got on his report card. THEY ASSAULTED BP WITH ROCKS, WHICH CAN EASILY BE THROWN HARD ENOUGH TO KILL SOMEONE, THE BP'S RESPONSE WAS JUSTIFIED, AS I AM SURE THE VIDEO WILL SHOW.
Hey USC buddie. You are probably the alien smuggler who sent this boy to his tomb. Muy orgulloso vavoso.
ReplyDeleteLet me guess, the Mexican soldiers heard the gunfire and ran the opposite way.
ReplyDeleteReading so many comments on something so delicate,were a boy died in hi own country by a police from the usa, I see so clear why this things hapens...if there is so much hate, judging the parents when they just have lost a son, judging the mexicans, without knowing what really happened, barking almost that he deserved it!...?WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE.I dont have religion, but I guess that if you have one, you are very hipocite.
ReplyDeleteWe don't know the facts because WE WERE NOT THERE!!! That´s all I have to say.
ReplyDelete" To the guy that said....,"You can't possibly expect me to believe that a group of trained and certified grown men armed with guns, tasers, and pepper spray could not handle the threat of a few people throwing rocks?," It is obvious that you have never had people throw rocks at you. Don't talk of what you know nothing about. "
ReplyDeleteDon't be so quick to judge fool. These weren't Balearic warriors using slings to fire rocks at their enemies. It was a group of illegal immigrants crossing the border. I've been to school football games where students throw loads of rocks at their opponents busses, sometimes to the extent of breaking windows. The security guards rarely even bat an eye, let alone pull out their guns and unload on the "attackers."
Someone who immediately resorts to deadly force to repel a stone attack is not qualified to protect our borders. Especially when he has a group of fellow agents there to assist him. If this man were in any immediate serious danger, I'm sure his comrades would have made no hesitation to engage the attackers.
Wow! So many opinions without any investigation! To state that the boy's father is in the narcotics business without any knowledge or even a hint about the character of the boy's family is outrageous. In fact, I fail to see anything about drugs in the report.
ReplyDeleteLet the investigation provide some facts. "Some people" in the group threw rocks at the BP agents and one agent fired into the crowd.
The shooting may be justifiable. Let's wait for the investigation to conclude.
Every country, including the USA, files formal protests when its citizens are killed. Nothing unusual in that action.
After 30 years in law enforcement I can understand using deadly force when attacked by a crowd of rock throwers. However, this - like all uses of deadly force, clearly deserves to be investigated. The officer involved in the shooting of ANY 15 year old suffers a huge amount of guilt and even 'great job - he deserved it' comments add to the mental anguish.
Please stop rushing to judgment before an investigation is completed. This shooting may be very justified, but we have no right to rush to judgment.
Ask the agent with a plate in his head what a rock can do. Force met with force. He may never be able to work again in this line law enforcement.
ReplyDeleteLink from ABC news on rock throwing and other adventures of being an Agent.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUlhYkJVu0Q
The "Little Darling" just needed a big hug and
ReplyDeletehe would have quit throwing rocks! Instead his
"running lights" were dimmed forever. What a cruel world! My Parents taught me to say "Yes Sir, No Sir when talking to Officers of the Law.
This will always be better than throwing rocks at them. Maybe We should start scholarships for "Rock Chunker of the Year"!
how far was the kid when he was throwing the rocks at the b.p.? can anyone tell me that? nobody has said how far the kid and the bp were?
ReplyDeletePeople are quick to point fingers. I’m sorry but I don’t want MY country USA to be like Mexico. So if Mexico does not like it then have their soldiers guard there border against Mexicans crossing over to USA.
ReplyDeleteYou play with fire and you will get burned. That BP stood his ground and used deadly force as needed. What was he suppose to do? Run like the Mexican policia when it gets hot? THESE COLORS DON’T RUN!!!!
Stay in your country and stop destroying mine!
shoot in the air first you moron
ReplyDeleteIn addition to all the above comments, it should be noted that elements of the Mexican army, on the Mexican side of the border also threatened the border patrol agents by pointing guns at them. This is another example of the lack of dicipline of Mexican soldiers. The same soldiers who murdered three school children last week in Reynosa. They lack training in the proper conduct of their work. The shoot first and make excuses later indicate they are fearful and prefer to act aggressively rather than obey rules of engagement.
ReplyDeleteCheck the video
ReplyDeletehttp://www.zocalo.com.mx/seccion/articulo/los-tiros-se-hicieron-de-cerca-en-el-lado-mexicano-forense
You mess with the bull, you get the horn. That
ReplyDeleteyouth was not a child as it has been mentioned, he knew the difference between right and wrong.
A well placed rock,stone can crack your skull
and kill you. It's a tragedy when there is a loss of life,but we must not become a lawless
state. Obey the laws or suffer the consequences.
First of all, it wasn't mexican soldiers keeping away the BP morons. It was the Federal Police. Just that. And they did it just to prevent BP morons recover the caskets. The BP morons want people think they are extremely brave and can face the Mx-Army. Not a chance, none of that. BP morons are delicate flowers, so yellow that when they see well armed narcs or smugglers they just run away asking for help.
ReplyDeleteSecond, during four large seconds (at least) the yellow BP moron was aiming-pointing to the kid, centering him and finally shooting. At least two direct hits, from a short distance. In the mexican side. And the kid wasn't carrying a gun. What a yellow "brave" is that one!!
Third, the gringo-lore with the BP is exaggerated. Plenty of them are in the payroll of narcs and smugglers. Proof of that is what is seen in the Arizona border land. Many ranchs allow the drug traffic, lots of vehicle tracks are seen meaning that ranch's owners and BP agents receive high bribes for looking the other side. And local politicians as well. In the case of ElPaso-Juarez the drug is freely transported trough customs and stored in many houses and buildings in the american side. Then by railroad or car drug is distributed to the rest of the US. And, strangely, the BP morons know nothing about it.
If the BP moron shooting the kid is an example of how professional border law enforcement is on the US side, whoa, then gringos should be worried. Because these moronic self-inflated bunch called BP is really incapable to protect the border land.
And i was extremely polite using the moron term....
Im surprised how many people feel the border patrol agent was wrong, rocks or not he was attacking the agent. what kind of innocent little 14 year old boy has that kind of attitude. I question if the mexican president would have this much interest in the case if the border patrol agent would have been killed. I can guarantee people on the mexican side wouldnt have pitty on our BP agents!. So all I can say is this is a example of BP agents doing their job first people nag on how we dont protect the borders and the moment we do people all of a sudden are die hard mexican citizens. so F OFF!
ReplyDeleteBorder patrol agents are in the middle of a bureaucratic mess. They have a slew of people telling them what to do and what not to do on any given day, mostly to keep up appearances. They have crooked politicians controlling their strings. The same people who realized a long time ago that there is money to be made in the whole "protect the border" scheme. They are shelling out billions of dollars to their already rich friends who just happen to be in the fence building business. Look it up. A boy died. Simple. Any life lost over something that is clearly an internal government power struggle is devastating. If the border patrol agent would have died I would have mourned him too. These are human beings. HUMANS! Just like you and me,who are being KILLED over a piece of metal and which side they stand on.
ReplyDeleteYou are not trained to take warning shot. In fact a warning shot goes against the US policy.
ReplyDeleteSide note where do you fire? What if your warning shot hit a true innocent bystander.
Where was the mexican government, mexican president, media, and liberals when 2 US citizens were killed in Juarez? When a rancher was killed in arizona? When a Border patrol Agent had to get reconstructed face surgery after being hit by a rock by a mexican criminal? All you idiots that do not back this Border patrol Agent need to get the hell out of this country. Go live in Mexico and support the country of mexico.
ReplyDeleteIn the interest of saving lives from gun violence and drug : IT'S TIME FOR AN EFFECTIVE FENCE ALL ALONG THE US - MEXICAN BORDER !!!
ReplyDeleteI've read through most of theese comments, and I am a u.s. citizen and I have lived in Mexico as well and before having gone off on this tragedy, Mexico should judge themselves, they are always so quick to judge the u.s..... there is a very interesting article in National Geographic, it's from 2009, but do any of you know what the mexican do with the immigrants that enter their country... they kill and rape with out rocks thrown at them! and much worse, so fix that problem first and then cry about this one, put that out in the light and then judge this one. And who's at fault here, ignorant parents, who the hell lets their kids wonder to the border like that especially with all that is going on, at this time they should have a closer eye on their kids period! I as a mother would have a short short leash! And if any have of you know the ways of mexican attitude it's either 1. I'm going to throw the rocks so that they can release my friend 2. yo me lo chingo. And there is soooo much worse going on that doesn't get published and here is all this commotion on this incident. What about all the 15,14, 10, and babies that have gotten killed for no reason, the druggy that killed them is still out there, have you seen how they snort up the coke before going on their rampages.... fix that then bitch! And just put yourself in the shoes of that bp, what would you have done, here is this drug war going on, you're holding one down and rocks are bieng thrown at you, do NOT tell me that you will kick back and focus and think "oh he's a kid, oh let me get out of the way, oh the rocks won't hurt me" come on... do not be so quick to judge... that's what mexicans do all the time, they judge every single thing that the u.s. gov. does wrong as if there's was a perfect one! I lived it for 7 yrs.
ReplyDeleteSilly rabbit....Don't you know only the Narco's and Mexican military can kill kids??? That's why Felipe Calderon is mad. US got no right acting like mexicans.
ReplyDeleteHe was wrong to kill the boy. he should have shot to injure, such as in the leg. he aimed directly at his head. the BP agent was wrong.
ReplyDeleteSome BP are more prietos than my vehicle tires
ReplyDeleteand they think they're gringos. Bunch of "duvalines" uniforms
Just go and by yourself and island and get away from all this mess!
ReplyDeleteWow I'm not so suprised by many ways stupid ppl think these days!
ReplyDeleteIf the Mexican people who are complaining and raising hell about this issue would do something to help there own it would be a different story. Instead the Mexican government blames the U.S but what have they done to alleviate the hunger the poverty throughout their Nation. NOTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteq poca la de este agente de imigracion si para el una piedra fue suficiente para poder utilizar su arma de fuego contra un adolecente y no tirar para asustar si no para matar no se vale hay q seguir de cerca esta historia para q no solo sea eso una simple historia hay q pedir justicia asi como ellos mandan a la pena de muerte a nustros paisanos hay q pedir lo mismo para ese ajente
ReplyDeleteThey wouldn't be issued firearms if they were never to use 'em. You come to our country to have a better life and upon entering assult our federal law enforcement officials. That's what you get!! If you want to enter and do so without being caught. Then do so peacefully you freakin idiotas! What the agent did was justified. He was just trying to get home to his family and some worthless insignificants were threatening him so he did what he had to do. If you feel it was wrong then you should go live in Mexico and defend them all you want you morons. Sheesh! You can't even back up the brave men and women that try to make this a safer better place for your worthless self. Then pack up and move out!!!!!
ReplyDeletedon't bring a rock to a gunfight...what would mexican policia/militares do to Americans who were throwing rocks at them..there is a double standard at play here between mexicans and americans
ReplyDeleteas the kid died in Mexico now we need to extradite the agent to legal process will the u.s. do if not stop the extradition of Mexican
ReplyDeleteA giant wall will be the only solution to stop the illgal enries of drugs and aliens. It will not stop it all, but it will put a huge dent in smuggling activities etc. Inadditon, illegal aliens who are removed will have a much harder time trying to return to the U.S. after being removed,deported. The BP would still be in place to help assist violators trying to cross over or under the wall. Guards would be in place on the wall with weapons and all the sofiticated tracking devices to assist in protecting the United States.
ReplyDeleteThe yellow dog Amerika is always at fault.
ReplyDeleteThe sheep let the boarder become a joke and all their elected A-holes in DC are every bit as responsible as the ROCK throwing illegals for this youths death. Deserved? You betcha, but he was a victim of DC's innaction. If they enforced the LAWS on the books the young man would NOT have been a ROCK THROWER. He would have been forced to make Mexico a place to live and love . . . NOT RUN AWAY FROM! A simple law. Picture, prints and you are forever barred from US Citizenship. Amen.
UNDERSTOOD BUT NOT COMPREHEND THE CRUELTY OF SHOOTING YOU IGNORANT'S NONCHALANT PEOPLE , HOW CAN SHOOTING AT SOMEONE IS OK
ReplyDelete? YOU IGNORANT INHUMANE , INSIDIOUS FOOLS. I'M AMBIVALENT ABOUT THE WHOLE SITUATION......
The death of a 15 year old boy is always unfortunate. I don't think anyone here knows the full details of the situation, and it's pointless to be so quick to judge.
ReplyDeleteI will say this: even a small rock, thrown with sufficient force, can blind. Firing "warning shots" is foolish as it can easily endanger the lives of bystanders.
If you throw a rock at a man with a gun, you should expect to get shot. That does necessarily exculpate the BP agent, as it's entirely possible the youth was not the rock thrower, or even the entire incident was fabricated to justify a trigger-happy agent.
Just, be calm and reasonable when discussing an issue like this.