WORLD BRIEFING / MEXICO
U.S. authorities said they were investigating the circumstances surrounding the shotgun slaying in Mexico of a fugitive deputy U.S. marshal who was wanted for allegedly stealing government property, including several weapons.
The body of Deputy U.S. Marshal Vincent Bustamante was discovered Wednesday by authorities in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, said Jeffrey Carter, a spokesman for the U.S. Marshals Service, who added that the service was cooperating with Mexican authorities and the FBI in the investigation.
There was an arrest warrant out for Bustamante at the time of his death for his failure to appear in court in El Paso on March 18 on charges of criminal theft of public property.
Bustamante was on a modified duty status as a result of the charges, which limited his law enforcement role and required his weapon, credentials and badges to be retained by his supervisor outside assigned work hours, Carter said.
A Justice Department official said authorities were extremely concerned about the death of Bustamante, who suffered a gunshot wound to the back of the head.
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