Esequiel Hernández, Jr.

Esequiel Hernández
Born Esequiel Hernández, Jr.
(1979-05-14)May 14, 1979
Died May 20, 1997(1997-05-20) (aged 18)
Redford, Texas
Nationality American
Known for High school student killed by United States Marines

Esequiel Hernández, Jr. (May 14, 1979 – May 20, 1997) was an 18-year-old American high school student killed on May 20, 1997 by United States Marines in Redford, Texas, located approximately one mile from the United States–Mexico border.[1] Hernández was the first American civilian to be killed by active United States Armed Forces while they were on duty since the student massacre at Kent State University in 1970[2] and led to Defense Secretary William Cohen issuing a temporary suspension of troop patrols near the U.S.–Mexico border.[3] The shooting inspired the 2005 movie The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada by Tommy Lee Jones, and the 2007 documentary The Ballad of Esequiel Hernandez.[4]

Death

U.S. Marines Ronald Wieler, Jr., Ray Torres, Jr., James Matthew Blood, and their team leader, San Francisco–native Clemente Bañuelos (all between the ages of 19 and 22) on drug patrol heavily camouflaged in ghillie suits came upon Hernández herding goats. The camouflaged Marines observed the 18-year-old high school student from concealment at a distance of approximately 200 yards maintaining radio contact with their unit.[5] Hernández, who was carrying a .22 caliber rifle that family members said he used to fend off predators, shot in the direction of the Marines.[1] Continuing to call for Border Patrol assistance, the Marines proceeded to track Hernández for twenty minutes, until Bañuelos, the Marine fire-team leader, shot and killed Hernandez. The bullet entered Hernandez' armpit on his right side.[6][7]

Investigation

A congressional investigation into the killing was scheduled for September 1997.[8] A grand jury examined the fatal shooting and considered criminal charges against the four Marines,[9] but did not indict any of the Marines involved in the shooting.[10] The Justice Department subsequently dropped its investigation.[11] The Marines also investigated the killing.[12] In 1998, the U.S. government paid the Hernández family $1.9 million to settle a wrongful death claim.[13] Clemente Bañuelos, the 22-year-old U.S. Marine who fatally shot Hernández was not charged.[14]

The Ballad of Esequiel Hernandez

The 2007 documentary The Ballad of Esequiel Hernandez explores his killing by Marines, analysing both sides of the issue. It won best-documentary awards at the Mexico City Film Festival and Santa Fe Film Festival in 2007 and at the El Paso festival in 2008. It is directed by Kieran Fitzgerald[15] and narrated by Tommy Lee Jones. The documentary premiered July 8, 2008 on PBS.

External links

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Gwynne/Marfa (1997-08-25). "Border Skirmish". Time. Retrieved 2008-07-11.
  2. ↑ Paulsen, Monte (1998-12-25). "Fatal Error: The Pentagon's War on Drugs Takes a Toll on the Innocent". Austin Chronicle. Retrieved 2008-07-11.
  3. ↑ Kasindorg, Martin (1997-07-30). "Pentagon Pulls Troops Off Drug Patrols". USA Today. Retrieved 2008-07-11.
  4. ↑ Dargis, Manohla (2005-12-14). "Dead Man Rising: An Odyssey in Texas". New York Times. Retrieved 2008-07-11.
  5. ↑ "On the Border". Hartford Advocate. 2008-06-30. Archived from the original on 2008-07-15. Retrieved 2008-07-11.
  6. ↑ "On the Border". Hartford Advocate. 2008-06-30. Archived from the original on 2008-07-15. Retrieved 2008-07-11.
  7. ↑ "Soldiers of Misfortune" By Robert Draper. Texas Monthly, August 1997.
  8. ↑ Wiessler, Judy (1997-07-17). "House panel plans probe of S. Texas border killing". Austin Chronicle. Retrieved 2008-07-11.
  9. ↑ Howe Verhovek, Same (1997-07-31). "Grand Jury to Examine Fatal Shooting of 18-Year-Old by Marine". New York Times. Retrieved 2008-07-11.
  10. ↑ Zeve, Charles (1997-08-14). "Grand jury doesn't indict Marine in border shooting". CNN. Retrieved 2008-07-11.
  11. ↑ Lewis, Anne S. (2008-06-06). "Tragedy on the Border". Austin Chronicle. Retrieved 2008-07-11.
  12. ↑ Major General John T. Coyne, United States Marine Corps. INVESTIGATION TO INQUIRE INTO THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE JOINT TASK FORCE-6 (JTF-6) SHOOTING INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED ON 20 MAY 1997 NEAR THE BORDER BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND MEXICO. 07 APR 98.
  13. ↑
  14. ↑ Mittelstadt, Michelle (1998-02-26). "Feds won't press charges in border shooting". Austin Chronicle. Retrieved 2008-07-121. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  15. ↑ Casady, Michelle (2008-07-08). "Documentary explores Texas teen's killing by Marines". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2008-07-11.
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