Post by KC on Mar 15, 2006 23:13:59 GMT -5
3/10/06 - BROWNSVILLE, TX - A police report released Thursday says a teenager who was killed by authorities as he fled in a stolen vehicle was endangering the lives of nine officers.
Edgar Ivan Lopez, 17, was killed Feb. 25 as he dashed for the Mexican border in a stolen Chevrolet Suburban near an international bridge in Brownsville.
The Brownsville Police Department report names the two Brownsville police officers and three U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents who fired shots at Lopez, The Brownsville Herald reported in its Friday editions.
Brownsville Detective Sam Lucio, 44, and Patrol Officer Rolando Trujillo, 37, fired their weapons during the chase, the report said. Both officers are on paid leave pending an internal investigation into the incident.
Customs officers Jaime Vidal, Gustavo DeLeon and Rudolph Hernandez also fired their weapons at the Suburban and Lopez, according to the report.
Customs officers Oscar Omar Perez, Guillermo Serrata, Oscar Martinez and Martin Cortez were listed as victims of an aggravated assault of a public servant but did not discharge their weapons.
Federal officials could not confirm the status of their seven officers, but spokesman Rick Pauza said his agency is providing counseling to officers involved in the incident who requested assistance.
The family of Lopez, who was unarmed during the chase, filed a wrongful death and excessive force lawsuit in state District Court less than 72 hours after his death.
Investigators are waiting for autopsy results and ballistic reports before the case can be presented before a grand jury, the newspaper reported.
The police report says Lopez and a 15-year-old partner were caught trying to steal a Chevrolet Tahoe parked outside a Brownsville nightclub, prompting a city chase that ended at the international bridge.
Brownsville police have said Lopez was suspected of being involved in a theft ring associated with the Gulf Cartel, a Mexico-based drug gang.
Edgar Ivan Lopez, 17, was killed Feb. 25 as he dashed for the Mexican border in a stolen Chevrolet Suburban near an international bridge in Brownsville.
The Brownsville Police Department report names the two Brownsville police officers and three U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents who fired shots at Lopez, The Brownsville Herald reported in its Friday editions.
Brownsville Detective Sam Lucio, 44, and Patrol Officer Rolando Trujillo, 37, fired their weapons during the chase, the report said. Both officers are on paid leave pending an internal investigation into the incident.
Customs officers Jaime Vidal, Gustavo DeLeon and Rudolph Hernandez also fired their weapons at the Suburban and Lopez, according to the report.
Customs officers Oscar Omar Perez, Guillermo Serrata, Oscar Martinez and Martin Cortez were listed as victims of an aggravated assault of a public servant but did not discharge their weapons.
Federal officials could not confirm the status of their seven officers, but spokesman Rick Pauza said his agency is providing counseling to officers involved in the incident who requested assistance.
The family of Lopez, who was unarmed during the chase, filed a wrongful death and excessive force lawsuit in state District Court less than 72 hours after his death.
Investigators are waiting for autopsy results and ballistic reports before the case can be presented before a grand jury, the newspaper reported.
The police report says Lopez and a 15-year-old partner were caught trying to steal a Chevrolet Tahoe parked outside a Brownsville nightclub, prompting a city chase that ended at the international bridge.
Brownsville police have said Lopez was suspected of being involved in a theft ring associated with the Gulf Cartel, a Mexico-based drug gang.