Mexico Seeks Punishment of U.S. Border Patrolman

The Mexican government Tuesday called for the punishment of the U.S. Border Patrol agent who shot a 12-year-old Mexican national through the border fence at the San Diego community of San Ysidro, Mexico’s consul general here reported.

“The Minister of Foreign Affairs in Mexico has instructed its ambassador in Washington, D.C., to request that the U.S. Department of State assure that the offending border patrol officer be punished to the fullest extent of the law,” said Consul General Javier Escobar, reading from a statement.

“These instructions include also a request that the minor, Humberto Carrillo-Estrada, be compensated for the damages suffered,” Escobar said.

State Department officials in Washington said they could not comment on the Mexican government’s request, because they have yet to receive any communication on the subject from Mexican officials.

Brother Involved

According to San Diego Police officials, Border Patrol Agent Edward D. (Ned) Cole shot the boy during an altercation involving the youth’s 15-year-old brother, Eduardo.

Officials said Eduardo was caught by Border Patrol agents as he attempted to climb the border fence near the San Ysidro Port of Entry. As agents attempted to subdue Eduardo, a group assembled on the Mexican side of the fence and began throwing bottles and rocks, police said.

Cole reportedly fired two warning shots into the air, and then fired at least one shot through the fence, striking the boy.

Homicide Lt. Paul Ybarrondo said the boy “had a rock in each hand.”

The boy was listed in very good condition at Mercy Hospital Tuesday, where he is recovering from a single gunshot wound to the side of the chest.

Meanwhile, Deputy Dist. Atty. Steve Casey said late Tuesday that his office had received a report compiled by the San Diego Police department detailing the incident.

Casey said it will be “a couple of days to a week” before the district attorney’s office decides whether to file a complaint against Cole.

Times staff writer Don Shannon in Washington also contributed to this story.