Consequences of Prohibition
Drug War Issues
According to Mexican press reports, the Mexican military shot and killed a US citizen on the Acapulco-Zihuatenejo highway Saturday night. The American was identified as Joseph Steven Proctor, either 32 or 35 years old, of Georgia.
The incident took place on kilometer 14 of the coastal highway, near the village of Cerrito de Oro in the municipality of Coyuca de Benitez in the state of Guerrero. For more than 30 years, the Mexican military has conducted patrols and checkpoints on the highway as part of its "permanent campaign against drug trafficking."
According to Lt. Francisco Javier Escamilla of the 68th Infantry Battalion, soldiers in a Hummer driving toward Coyuca encountered a Winstar pick-up truck traveling toward them. The truck opened fire on the soldiers, and when it refused to stop, the soldiers shot back, causing the truck to overturn.
The Mexican army did not initially report the incident, only issuing its statement after police found Proctor's body. Instead, an anonymous call to state police reported the truck and the body around 2:00am Sunday morning. When police arrived, they found Proctor's body in the truck. It had multiple bullet wounds. They also found an AR-15 rifle with a 41-cartridge clip holding only 34 cartridges.
[Editor's Note: Anyone with experience firing a semi-automatic rifle at oncoming military vehicles while driving solo down the highway, please contact us. We want to know just how that is done.]
Proctor's body was taken to Acapulco for forensic examination, then turned over to his wife, Mexican national Liliana Gil Vargas. Gil Vargas told the newspaper Reforma that her husband had left their home in Coyuca de Benitez at about 10:00pm Saturday night to go shopping at a supermarket.
State and municipal police are investigating. The US consulate in Acapulco is asking that the military cooperate in the investigation.
While the Mexican military has long played a limited role in enforcing drug prohibition, President Felipe Calderon unleashed it in December 2006, deploying some 50,000 soldiers and federal police in hot spots across the country. It is widely accused of human rights violations, ranging from rape and robbery to torture, murder, and forced disappearances.
Permission to Reprint: This content is licensed under a modified Creative Commons Attribution license. Content of a purely educational nature in Drug War Chronicle appear courtesy of DRCNet Foundation, unless otherwise noted.
Comments
Not buying the BULL
How dumb do they (mexican gov't) think we are?
My cousin was murdered thousands of miles away from his family! I, we'd like to know why. Nothing can bring him back .... but I'll be DAMNED if I'm gonna stand by and eat this #$%* they're feeding us. I want some answers. Far as I'm concerned, The mexican military can shove it. We wanna know why cousin joey won't be coming home!!!! I wont go down without a fight. I need to know who is responsible for this... Joseph Deserves this, at the least.
In reply to Not buying the BULL by Family Member (not verified)
checkpoints
I'm a Mexican/American and i stop going fishing to Baja (Mexico) because i ran into a military checkpoint
on my way back from Bahia de Los Angeles with my family.
The checkpoint was in the middle of the desert at night with no lights or vehicles, all i saw was a person in the middle of the road with a rifle signaling me to stop.
I thought of running him over but out of the corner of my eye i saw another two persons with rifles so i stop (i thought they were robbed us )
It turn out they were army looking for drugs, when i mentioned to them that i was not going to stop because i thought they were robbers, they told me that there were two more soldiers ahead and they would have shot me.
If i had ran the checkpoint probably i would have been shot and reported as a drug dealer.
I'm not saying that in this case that is what happened but it is a probability.
Congratulations Mexico.. keep up the good work.
Maybe if the Mexican military would stop being so trigger happy and would have performed a proper road side check following SOP this tragedy could have been prevented.. I, like many other rational or even slightly rational people, would find it safe to assume that a American in Mexico would not go gallavanting in a truck in a known drug enforced area and decide to stir up a army battalion by shooting up a humvee at night while driving by it. Did the MexMil think that maybe just maybe all of the pissed off drug cartels were making a statement and either planned or improvised and used Mr. Proctor as a diversion and scapegoat? It's called a stakeout.. if the drug lords know its a heavy trafficking area like the military does.. they know it will be traveled as well by their "enemies". So why does the MexMil decide to wait to report the incident? Maybe it was a mistake? Maybe no one would find him? Maybe they did nothing wrong? Even the best bullshitters can't come up with some quality bullshit on the spot! Sounds like this war on drugs Mexico is waging has rules that are clearly as black and white as grey is... The MexMil is just a bigger bully than the drug cartels and is seen as a "justified" evil in their eyes.
I hope that the drug influx has been slowed because of this negligent murder. I hope that humvee can get a medal for becoming a band of heroes. I hope they are brought to justice.
RIP Joseph Proctor
Lies
There is no way in hell Joseph would EVER attack a convoy or cause any kind of trouble like that. Sounds like a cover up and a bunch of bull. This young man would NEVER pull a gun or even USE a gun on others. It is not his character, please World, it is not Joseph's character. These are bold face lies to a cover up his murder. There is no justification for this young man's death!!! Joseph was murdered and that will be on your hands MEXICAN MILITARY for the rest of your lives and you will be brought to justice whether on Earth or in Hell where you belong.
Joseph - May you rest in peace and guide your family to finding justice for your wrongful death and peace in their hearts until you all meet again. God Bless. R.I.P. Joe
we don't either
As our editor's note in the article indicates, we're not inclined to simply buy the army's explanation either. We anxiously await more facts.
If any friends or family members would like to get in touch with us to speak out more and see if there any opportunities for doing something, Phil can be reached at [email protected], and I can be reached at [email protected].
We are sorry for your loss.
In reply to we don't either by borden (not verified)
Thank you. I will be in touch
Thank you. I will be in touch soon Mr. Borden, and I'm sure other family members will too. I will pass along your contact information.
Mexican Army Kills US Citizen
Why isn't Obama demanding an investigation and the truth from his buddy, Mexican President Felipe Calderon? If this had happened to a Mexican citizen in the United States he would be apologizing to the world. I pray that his family finds justice and peace.
Who is arming the Mexican Army?
http://www.lewrockwell.com/gaddy/gaddy54.html
UPDATE-Â After many phone
UPDATE-
After many phone calls to senators, congressmen, sending down thousands of dollars and many troubles after sending down the money, the family has 'bought back' and recovered Joey's body from the mexican govt. Surprisingly, the mexican gov't seems to be turning in its soldiers, holding them responsible.
The story has changed yet again. Now they make no mention of a gun found in his truck and he did not fire at anyone at a military checkpoint as previously stated. The two soldiers say they tried to stop him but he fled from them so they fired at the truck. The autopsy report showed he had been shot on the left and the right sides, with one of the bullets entering his lung. Sounds hard to do when you are chasing a vehicle. More likely they stopped him and approached him from both sides of his truck and opened fire. As you see, there remain many questions. At least the 2 soldiers involved are in custody. I hope the true story comes out as the investigation continues.
This is a copy of a translated letter we received direct from the US embassy, detailing the mexican's "new" story:
"In relation to the facts where the USCitizen Joseph Steven Proctor lost his life, we inform the following:
On August 31st 2010, the Military Public Prosecutor attached to the 27th Military Zone instituted criminal proceedings against Infantry Soldiers Jared Josmart RamÃrez Medina and Omar Leoncio Ramos, as likely responsible for the crime of violence against persons causing homicide, having been made available to the 6th Military Judge with seat in Mexico, Federal District.
The facts that originated the before mentioned legal action were as follows:
At 0210, August 22nd 2010, military personnel tried to stop the late Joseph Steven Proctor on two occasions.The first time, when the Soldiers tried to conduct a search of the vehicle Mr. Proctor was traveling in, on the Highway to Coyuca de Benitez, Gro., but Mr. Proctor proceeded to escape, and was shot at twice by Infantry Soldier Omar Leoncio Ramos, hitting only the vehicle but not its driver.
The second occasion, was when military personnel intercepted the late Joseph Steven Proctor, at Kilometer 17 of the same Highway, when Mr. Joseph Steven Proctor tried to flee again, and Infantry Soldiers Jared Josmart RamÃrez Medina and Omar Leoncio Ramos, fired one shot each, wounding the driver who nonetheless continued to drive away fleeing, crashing the car three kilometers down that road.
On September 1st 2010, the 6th Military Judge with seat in the I Military Region (Military Base No. 1-A, D.F.), with basis in Criminal Cause No. 511/2010, turned the Arrest Warrant against the before mentioned Soldiers, due to the probable responsibility in the commission of that crime, with the execution of the Arrest Warrant conducted by personnel from the Military Judicial Police on September 3rd 2010. The Soldiers were turned over to the Military Judge and interned in the Military Prison attached to the I Military Region, Mexico D.F.
On September 3rd 2010, the Soldiers performed their preliminary statements and the Judge will resolve their legal situation on September 9th 2010, because they requested to double the Constitutional term. It is important to highlight that in accordance with the body of evidence, an Order of Imprisonment is expected to be dictated, and since it is a serious crime, the Soldiers have no right to Bail." (END LETTER)
This is a bitter sweet step in the right direction, because it still doesn't bring Joseph back....
Rights
Doesn't the family have the right to bring a civil lawsuit against the government of Mexico? I know it happens in reverse here where Mexicans are able to file lawsuits even when they are here illegally. Just curious.
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