News From the Border

Providing the news from a different front but from a war that we must win as well! I recognize the poverty and desperate conditions that many Latinos live in. We, as the USA, have a responsibility to do as much as we can to reach out to aid and assist spiritually with the Gospel and naturally with training, technology and resources. But poverty gives no one the right to break the laws of another sovereign nation.

Wednesday, April 09, 2008

Agent testifies migrant used deadly force

By Louie Gilot / El Paso Times

Article Launched: 04/09/2008 12:00:00 AM MDT

The Border Patrol agent who shot and killed an undocumented immigrant in Downtown El Paso in 2003 said in court Tuesday that his actions were justified because the migrant charged him with a pipe.

"I never wanted to have to shoot anybody for my whole career, but he left me no choice. He made the choice, not me. He came at me with deadly force," Agent Vernon Billings said on the witness stand.

On Feb. 22, 2003, Billings shot Juan Patricio Peraza, who was 19, during a standoff between the young man, armed with a pipe, and six Border Patrol agents, including Billings, with their weapons drawn. After an investigation by the El Paso Police Department, a grand jury chose not to indict Billings. Billings is still a Border Patrol agent.

Labels: , ,

posted by missionaryman | 11:07 AM

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home