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Show Speda/Features Friday, Aug. 28. 2009 Page \9 Mexico's drug violence spills into U.S BY WILLIAM BOOTH The Washington Post EL PASO, Texas _ Jose Daniel Gonzalez was living the sweet life in America. He bought the $365,000 two-story Mediterranean with the tile roof and swimming pool. He started a trucking company, was raising a family. But on a Friday night in May, hewas executed in his front yard _ eight shots, tight pattern, close range. According to police detectives, Gonzalez knew the man who ordered his killing. He also knew the man who stood on his lawn and watched him die. These things are often personal, especially among high-level drug traffickers. A gangland-style slaying is no big news across the river in Ciudad Juarez, the bloodiest city in Mexico, where more than 1,300 people have been killed in 2009. and only a handful of cases have been solved despite the presence of 10,000 soldiers and federal police officers in President Felipe Calderon's war on drug cartels. But in El Paso, where local leaders boast how safe their city is and the 12 homicides this year have almost all beensolved, the Gonzalez killing was as disturbing as it was sensational. For people here, the blood splashed on a Ready for a Baby? You may be eligible for $$cash upon delivery! Benefits payable In addition to other Insurance. Denise Abbott 435-757-7834 denise abbott@us.aflac.com . Angle's "Where the Locals Eat" MORE T H A N 1,300 PEOPLE have been killed this year, most in Juarez, despite President Calderon's war on drug cartels. Inthe background are the lights of El Paso, Texas, just across the border, photo by Sarah LVoisin pretty American street was a jarring sign that Mexico's drug violence is spilling across the border into U.S. suburbia. Most unsettling for many, especially El Paso police officials, was that both Gonzalez and the man accused of ordering his killing turned out to be ranking drug traffickers from the notorious Juarez cartel, as well as informers for the U.S. government. "So this is how these people end up in our country," said El Paso police Lt. Alfred Lowe, the lead homicide detective and 29- year veteran whose team made the arrests in the Gonzalez case. "We bring them here." As a spectacular wave Answers To Today's Crossword of drug violence washes over Mexico, the Obama [ I SeeJUAREZ, page 20 Welcome Back Aggies!!! ! Buy any entree 2 0 % OFF! get one The Kitchen Sink i 1/2 OFF Not valid with any other offer i Not valid with any other offer Puzze! KSM Music Your local music shop *Gultars 8L Basses *Drums & Percussion *Home Computer Recording *Live Soundft.P.A. *Music, Books & Videos "Private Lessons *Band &. Orchestra www.ksmmusic.co 50 W 400 K (425) 753-6813 THINKING YOV MISSEO OVT .'CAVSE YOV MISSED GETTING Y0VR COVPON CLIPPER? Trtte Aggiesf You can View and Print coupons all semester long! Just go to www.AggieTownSquare.com, and pull down under the Big Blue Biz tab! There it is! While you are there, register and get a screen name. Then you can get e-mail headlines, you can post FREE classifieds, participate in blogs and discussion, send in viral videos and so much more! |