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Show SpecialFeatures Friday, Aug. 28, 2009 Page 19 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 been solved, the Gonzalez killing was as disturbing as it was sensational. For people here, the blood splashed on a “Where the Locals Eat” Lunch • Dinner • Breakfast • Banquet Facilities • Steaks • Seafood • Large Variety of Omelettes MORE THAN 1,300 PEOPLE have been killed this year, most in Juarez, despite President Calderon’s war on drug cartels. In the background are the lights of El Paso, Texas, just across the border. photo by Sarah L. Voisin 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 of drug violence washes over Mexico, the Obama - See JUAREZ, page 20 Welcome Back Aggies!!! Answers To Today’s Crossword Puzzle! 20% OFF Buy any entree get one The Kitchen Sink 1/2 OFF Not valid with any other offer Not valid with any other offer "SDITUPOF "QBSUNFOUT %FQPTJU 0O TJUF MBVOESZ 'VMMZ GVSOJTIFE $MPTF UP $BNQVT /FXMZ 3FOPWBUFE (SFBU TVNNFS SBUFT %JTDPVOUT "WBJMBCMF 6UJMJUJUFT OPU JODMVEFE 8JSFMFTT *OUFSOFU 4UBSUJOH BU GPS UIF TDIPPM ZFBS & / Thinking you missed out ...’cause you missed getting your Coupon Clipper? The new Favorite of True Aggies! "IG "LUE S Coupon Clipper &ALL You can View and Print coupons all semester long! Just go to www.AggieTownSquare.com, Mexican Restaurant and pull down under the Lmbee Eh`ZgÍl ?Zohkbm^ Big Blue Biz tab! There it is! El Sol $ 2 Off any entree with drink While you are there, register and get a screen name. Then you can get 10* Gh' FZbg% Eh`Zg e-mail headlines, you can post FREE classifieds, participate in blogs and discussion, send in viral videos..... and so much more! Expires Dec. 5, 2008 |
