Border Patrol Agent killed in CA

[StationM]

Here's a link with a nice video from the services. I was hoping to find something showing the convoy that left Qualcomm stadium...I was told it was 2 miles long.

Funeral for Slain Border Patrol Agent - San Diego 6

[madchiken]

Thank you M, and thank you to everyone who attended the services yesterday. I wasn't paying attention, but was told later that, in addition to every San Diego and Imperial County agency and Border Patrol Agents from the entire SW border and some from our northern border, that there were departments from as far away as Los Angeles and Phoenix. The vehicle procession ulitimately extended more than 5 miles once the processions from San Diego, Campo, and El Centro all joined together. I'm sure the family appreciated the huge turnout of support, I know his coworkers, past and present, did. Rob had previously worked for two years as a reserve officer in the El Centro Police Department and for six years as a CO in a state prison, before coming over to the Border Patrol.

It was nice to see the local residents showing their support as cars pulled to the side of the road and watched the procession pass by, many braving the exteme heat with signs, flags, or their hand or cap over their heart.

If anyone is interested, a chipin account (organized by Imperial PD) has been setup for the family here ChipIn: BP Agent Robert Rosas' Family , and a donation account (organized by San Diego BP agents) has been setup at Cabrillo Credit Union - Robert W. Rosas Memorial Account, Account Number 186716-02, Welcome to Cabrillo Credit Union 1-800-222-7455. Both funds will go to the family.

[StationM]

If you go to Youtube (I can't access here for the link) there is also a nice video of Brian Bilbray's address to Congress in his honor. I thought it was a great speech honoring his sacrafice, and a reminder of the agents who make the choice to be in the wrong place at the right time to protect citizens.

[Safety Steve]

Does California have an express lane to Death Row like Texas?
RIP my brother.

[StationM]

Does California have an express lane to Death Row like Texas?
RIP my brother.

I would think this would fall under Federal charges, not state.

[charlydevo]

Many times these things are handled by the locals for a couple of reasons. One, they are better at investigating a homicide than any fed agency. Two, the various states often have a better chance at getting a death penalty than the federal government does. Our judges are pretty much liberal douches.


God bless his family.

[madchiken]

To update this:

One of Rob's killers plead guilty this morning in federal court to murder of a federal officer during a robbery. The other shooters are still outstanding, but hopefully not too much longer!


From the USAO press release:

San Diego, CA - United States Attorney Karen P. Hewitt announced the filing of an information and the guilty plea today of an individual involved in the death of Customs and Border Protection Border Patrol Agent Robert W. Rosas, Jr. Agent Rosas was shot and killed on July 23, 2009, while he was on a routine patrol near San Diego, California. The information charges the
defendant with the murder of a federal officer committed in perpetration of a robbery.

According to the plea agreement, Christian Daniel Castro-Alvarez, age 17, admitted that during the evening of July 23, 2009, he illegally entered the United States for the purpose of robbing a Border Patrol agent of government property. While Agent Rosas was engaged in the performance of his duties, Castro-Alvarez and his co-conspirators lured Agent Rosas out of his vehicle for the purpose of robbing him. During the course of the robbery, Agent Rosas and the defendant struggled over a firearm and Agent Rosas was shot multiple times by the defendant and one or more of the co-conspirators. Agent Rosas died as a result of the shots fired by one or more
of the co-conspirators.