Texas Home Invasion Leave 6 Dead

[JohnKSa]

http://abcnews.go.com/wire/US/ap20030105_1371.html

Six Killed in Texas Home Invasion
EDINBURG, Texas (AP) - Six men were shot to death early Sunday in a home invasion by four or five intruders, authorities said.
Police said they believe the assailants were searching for weapons and drugs.
A witness, who was tied up during the shooting and survived, told authorities that one of the assailants wore clothing with the word "police'' on it.
Five of the victims were found in one house; another was found in a second house on the same property, Sgt. Rey Ramirez said. He said no arrests had been made.
Police were called to the rural scene by the survivor. Neighbors reported hearing shots fired but did not see anything, Ramirez said.
Ramirez said police knew two of the victims from previous investigations; victims' names were not released.

01/05/03 19:06

 

[nemesis]

That location is about fifteen minutes drive from here and there is no more recent news. It's really not unusual here except for the number dead. You must remember that an extremely significant population of the valley are not American in any sense of the word. Local folks often say "well, this isn't really America but it's not officially part of Mexico".

The reality is that the border is so porous here that criminals and crime flow back and forth unimpeded. They mostly prey on each other (Mexicans) and, most commonly, they are trying to steal the other gangs narcotics. The number of Mexicans living here is enormous but this is the Land of Opportunity. The beauty of it is that they can just hightail it back across the bridge if it gets too hot for them.

The population breakdown of the valley is 90% Hispanic, 8.5% Caucasian and the last couple of points split between anyone else. Probably 30 to 40% speak no English at all and a very large number circulate in an entirely Mexican, not Hispanic and not Mexican-American, society.

Many of the criminals apprehended for serious crimes have already been deported by the I.N.S. but that isn't much of a deterrent as they just turn around and walk back across. If I sound disinterested in the deaths of six people, it's because this fits a pattern. These people kill each other on a whim. Life is not important to them and the law is not a serious threat.

The biggest threat to these people would be a controlled border. I don't suppose that's likely to happen.

 

[thaddeus]

More home invaders wearing Police uniforms? This seems to be far too common for my liking.
It seems that we see one of these home invasions about once every couple months, where the home invaders are wearing Police uniforms.
I recall one a short while ago of guy wearing BATF uniforms doing a home invasion in San Diego.

 

[SodaPop]

And its going to get worse.

 

[El Tejon]

Can someone give me a vector on Edinburg? Can't find it on the AAA map.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Glad Texas has a death penalty.

 

[Triad]

El Tejon, it's near Brownsville.

 

[El Tejon]

Triad, thanks much. Found it on 281.

 

[Triad]

El Tejon, no problem.
I wonder how many of these type of invasions we don't hear about?

 

[El Tejon]

Well, if my LE experience is any experience--a lot.

 

[JohnKSa]

Any LE's here care to offer some advice as to what a homeowner should do when his home is abruptly entered by a group of people wearing clothing saying "police" on it?

 

[Zak Smith]

Well, a law-breaking home-owner could conclude it's most likely the actual police...

The rest... ?



-z

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Things like this happen and yet people still question why the Fort Worth convenience store owner's son shot the female cop who was the first of 3 police officers to enter the store with guns drawn and masks on their faces who were there to make an undercover arrest.

 

[Lone_Gunman]

I will about guarantee this is an example of drug dealers killing drug dealers.

6 men in one home? what was it, a frat house or crack house?

 

[Azrael256]

I'm going to have to agree with Lone Gunman here. We don't have all the facts (when do we ever?), but this doesn't seem like a bunch of guys who were just roommates. Really don't know, and they could have been six priests living in the same house, but somehow I suspect that they weren't.

 

[DAL]

More casualties in the Drug War. When will it ever end? The truth is, it won't. Some people are always going to want one thing or another that's forbidden (drugs, guns, freon, etc.) by some well-meaning do-gooder. But hey, it keeps lots of folks employed, and isn't that what it's all about?
DAL

 

[Azrael256]

New tidbit of info...

Well, I just saw the report on the news. WB 33 in Dallas says that the person who was tied up was the mother of two of the victims. Don't know how that changes anything.

 

[JohnKSa]

Things like this happen and yet people still question why the Fort Worth convenience store owner's son shot the female cop who was the first of 3 police officers to enter the store with guns drawn and masks on their faces who were there to make an undercover arrest.

Last I heard they were not going to charge him. As it should be.

As for the people who dismiss this by saying it's criminals killing criminals you're right, but missing the point.

Most homicides are "criminals killing criminals" however, this particular case highlights a problem which Double Naught Spy quickly pinpointed.

If police act like criminals (kick down doors and enter armed and masked) and criminals act like police (wear clothing marked police), how are we supposed to be able to tell the difference?

 

[shu]

Nemesis -
Where exactly was that? I have a rent house on 281 north of Edingurg (although I live over toward Harlingen).
You shoot at the pharr club?

 

[Gordon]

Six less to potentionally vote Democrat, looks like you Texans found a way to help the problem fix itself.

 

[Lone_Gunman]

Sometimes police gotta kick down doors, guys.

 

[Blackhawk]

Quite likely, Lone_Gunman.

The odds of a druggie digs getting shot up for money, drugs, or merely to reduce the competition are very high.

Random strike? How about close to impossible.

 

[JohnKSa]

Lone Gunman,

That may be, but it doesn't answer my questions.

 

[wingman]

Sometimes police gotta kick down doors, guys."


Only when a life within is threated should
it be necessary to kick down the door of
a "private" residence, "all" other arrest
could and should be made elsewhere,
but don't think we will see this happen.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

Caught WBAP this morning and they are reporting that the attackers were using automatic weapons according to the witness. Now whether the witness knows the difference between semi and full auto may be a question.