A trial began on Friday for an Arizona rancher who is accused of shooting and killing a migrant on his property near Mexico. As the national debate over border security intensifies in the run-up to this year’s presidential election, the defense attorney for the rancher maintains his client’s innocence.
Last year, he was arrested and faced charges in connection with the fatal shooting of 48-year-old Gabriel Cuen-Buitimea. The incident took place on January 30, 2023, near the border in Nogales, Mexico.
According to Larkin, Kelly was in his kitchen getting ready for a late lunch when he noticed five men crossing his ranch with big backpacks and rifles. He then heard the sound of a single gunshot.
“He is aware of the commotion happening outside. It is evident that something violent and dangerous is unfolding,” she explained. “Armed criminals have invaded his property, and there is a possibility of another gunshot being fired, potentially targeting him.”
According to prosecutors, Kelly exhibited reckless behavior when he discharged an AK-47 rifle in the direction of the migrants, who were approximately 100 yards (90 meters) away from him. In addition to the rifle, Kelly was also armed with a handgun.
“I urge you to view Gabriel Cuen-Buitimea as a person, rather than the animal that George Kelly labeled him,” emphasized Kim Hunley, the Chief Deputy Attorney of Santa Cruz County, during her address to the jury on Friday.
Fortunately, the other migrants escaped unharmed and were able to return safely to Mexico.
According to court records, Cuen-Buitimea has entered the U.S. illegally multiple times and has been convicted and deported, with the most recent deportation occurring in 2016.
The Mexican consulate in Nogales, Arizona is closely monitoring the case and has been in contact with the victim’s family.
The shooting in El Paso County has stirred up intense political debates regarding border security concerns. This incident comes as a reminder of a tragic event that occurred only six months ago, when a prison warden and his brother were apprehended in a West Texas shooting that resulted in the death of one migrant and injury of another. The Sheppard twins, Michael and Mark, aged 60, were charged with manslaughter for their involvement in the September 2022 incident.
According to Florida news media, the brothers were reported to be living in the state last fall after being released on bond.
Border security takes center stage in the current presidential race, as both Republican candidate Donald Trump and Democratic President Joe Biden recently paid separate visits to the Texas-Mexico border in late February.
