9OYS Border Watch

Demanding justice along the border one step at time

CREATED Nov. 2, 2012

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  • An emotional day on both sides of the line as Nogales neighbors walked along the fence demanding justice for two teenagers gunned down by Border Patrol agents. Video by kgun9.com

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Reporter: Marcelino Benito

NOGALES, Ariz. (KGUN9-TV) - Border Patrol says 16-year-old Jose Antonio Elena Rodriguez was throwing rocks at agents across the border, so they returned fire with bullets. Border Patrol calls it self defense. The boy's family calls it murder and Friday night they joined complete strangers in the streets to demand justice.

"Justicia, queremos justicia," said Taide Elena, the boy's grandmother.

Justice we just want justice said Elena. Three weeks since her grandson's death and the family is still waiting for answers. She, like those who joined in the procession along the border don't buy Border Patrol's explanation that Rodriguez was a lethal threat.

"You cannot compare a gun to a rock, that's impossible," said Maria Carrasco with Derechos Humanos.

Participants dressed in all white. They lit candles and carried carnations. Symbols to remember Rodriguez and the 16 others killed by Border Patrol in the last three years.

"So many kids have been killed," Carrasco said. "It's time for people to rise up."

They marched along the border wall coming close to the spot where Rodriguez was shot and killed on October 10th.

They shot him 13 times says his grandmother. Not seven times. She calls it brutality, Border Patrol brutality that needs to stop.

9OYS reporter Marcelino Benito asked Carrasco if she's optimistic Border Patrol will change it's policies. She replied, "I don't think so, but I got to keep hoping. I got to keep fighting."

The Rodriguez family is calling for transparency in this investigation. Authorities tell 9OYS the investigation is ongoing.

Customs and Border Protection does have surveillance video from the day Rodriguez was killed. The family is pushing for them to make the video public. No word yet on when or if that will happen.