U.S. and Mexico offer $5.8 million reward for information regarding shootings of 2 ICE agents
March 31st, 2011 - 1:07 am ICT by BNO NewsWASHINGTON D.C. (BNO NEWS) — The United States and Mexico on Wednesday offered rewards totaling $5.84 million for information that leads to the capture of the gunmen involved in the shootings of two Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
The U.S. government offered a reward of up to $5 million for information in regards to the individuals responsible for the murder of ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent Jaime Zapata and the attempted murder of ICE HSI Special Agent Victor Avila.
On the other hand, the Mexican government announced a reward of $10 million pesos ($840,000) for information related to the shootings that took place in the northern state of San Luis Potosi last February.
A group of unidentified gunmen attacked two U.S. agents assigned to the ICE Attaché office in Mexico City. The two agents were ambushed while traveling in their U.S. government-issued vehicle from the state of San Luis Potosi to Mexico City.
The shooting took place on the of San Luis Potosi-Mexico City highway. One of the agents, 32-year-old Zapata, was killed during the attack, while the other, Avila, suffered gunshot wounds.
Mexican authorities have detained several individuals in relation with the attack. The suspected gunmen have ties with the “Los Zetas” drug cartel. Julian Zapata Espinosa, also known as “El Piolin,” was arrested and presented as the alleged shooter.
In addition, five other Zetas members were detained in relation with the shooting against the two ICE agents. On February 28, the Mexican Navy detained Sergio Antonio Mora Cortés, aka “El Toto,” suspected Zetas leader and boss of Zapata Espinosa.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and ICE have established a 24-hour tip line based in the United States to process the information.
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Tags: antonio mora, attempted murder, bno, drug cartel, el piolin, federal bureau of investigation, gunshot wounds, immigration and customs enforcement, investigation fbi, jaime zapata, julian zapata, los zetas, mexican authorities, mexican government, mexican navy, mexico city, san luis potosi mexico, security investigations, unidentified gunmen, victor avila