Activists in Mexico are denouncing the overnight police-involved shooting death of a Salvadoran migrant in the border state of Coahuila. State authorities claimed the discharge was in self-defense after the migrant allegedly drew a handgun and fired first.
The shooting took place overnight in the western side of Saltillo when state police officers stopped a group of four men near the 5 de Mayo neighborhood, Zocalo reported. The four men reportedly insulted the officers and one of them drew a handgun and began firing while the rest fled. The officers fought off the attack, fatally shooting the man.
After the shooting, agents called for investigators and crime scene specialists. Authorities also called the state human rights commission to help monitor the investigation and autopsy.
Activists with the Casa Del Migrante shelter issued a statement claiming the Salvadoran migrant was shot by police as he tried to run away and died in front of his 8-year-old daughter. The shelter’s director, Alberto Xicoténcatl, told various local news outlets that authorities fired without provocation.
The case is sparking controversy throughout the border state. The Catholic bishop in Saltillo, Raul Vera Lopez, called the police officers “murderers,” Zocalo reported.
“Their only crime was waiting for a train where they would climb on surrounded by danger … what type of authorities are we paying for? We are paying murderers,” Zocalo quoted Vera Lopez during his morning service.
Ildefonso Ortiz is an award-winning journalist with Breitbart Border / Cartel Chronicles. He co-founded the Cartel Chronicles project with Brandon Darby and senior Breitbart management. You can follow him on Twitter and on Facebook. He can be contacted at Iortiz@breitbart.com.
Brandon Darby is the managing director and editor-in-chief of Breitbart Border / Cartel Chronicles. He co-founded the Cartel Chronicles project with Ildefonso Ortiz and senior Breitbart management. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook. He can be contacted at bdarby@breitbart.com.
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