PHOENIX – A trial is set to begin in Arizona for a rancher charged with the fatal shooting of a migrant on his property near Mexico. This case intensifies the ongoing debate over border security as the nation prepares for the upcoming presidential election.
George Alan Kelly, 75, is facing second-degree murder charges for the killing of a man he encountered on his property outside Nogales, Arizona. The trial, expected to last up to a month, will take place in Santa Cruz County Superior Court.
The incident occurred on January 30, 2023, when Kelly shot and killed 48-year-old Gabriel Cuen-Buitimea of Nogales, Mexico. The victim was among a group of unarmed migrants who were walking through Kelly’s property. Prosecutors allege that Kelly recklessly fired an AK-47 rifle toward the migrants, who were approximately 100 yards away.
Kelly’s defense attorney argues that he shot into the air above the migrants out of fear for his safety, his wife’s safety, and the protection of his property. While Cuen-Buitimea had a history of illegal entry into the U.S. and prior convictions, the shooting has sparked political tensions surrounding border security in the region.
The Mexican consulate in Nogales is closely monitoring the case and has been in contact with the victim’s family. This incident comes amid escalating concerns about border violence, with another recent case involving twin brothers in Texas who were charged in a shooting that killed one migrant and wounded another.
The issue of border security has become a focal point in this year’s presidential race, highlighted by visits from both Republican Donald Trump and Democratic President Joe Biden to the Texas-Mexico border. As the trial unfolds, it serves as a reminder of the complex and divisive nature of immigration and security policies in the U.S.