U.S. Offers Reward in Salvador Deaths of Six Americans

The United States will give up to a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the gunmen who killed six Americans in El Salvador on June 19, the State Department announced Friday.

Although left-wing guerrilla groups defended the shooting of the four U.S. Marines and two American civilians as a justifiable act of war, no group has been identified as being responsible.

It is the first time that the United States has offered such a reward, which is made possible by the Combat of Terrorism Act passed by Congress last year. Under the law, the secretary of state is given the right to offer rewards up to $500,000 if it will help bring terrorists to justice.

In announcing the reward, State Department spokesman Bob Smalley said the reward is “a useful tool” in helping fight terrorism. He said information given to the U.S. government about the possible killers would be held confidential and the exact amount, with the maximum of $100,000, would be determined by how important the leads are.

He said, “No money will be paid out until we are satisfied it has led to the prosecution and conviction of those responsible.”

The six Americans were sitting in an outdoor cafe in San Salvador when a group of gunmen, armed with submachine guns and dressed in military uniforms, drove up and opened fire without warning.