Mexico Demands Expedited Probe Into Deaths of 3 Mexican Nationals in Arizona
The government of Mexico on Monday demanded an "ample and expedited" investigation into the killing of three Mexican nationals in Arizona.
The Hill reported that the bodies of two men and one teen boy were found in an empty lot near a residential neighborhood in Phoenix, Arizona on February 20 with apparent signs of trauma.
Mexico Condemns Deaths of 3 Mexican Nationals in Arizona
In a statement, Mexico's Foreign Ministry has condemned the deaths of Abimael Jimenez Morenos, 16, Isauro Martinez Dominguez, 21, and Herminio Perez Ramirez, 28, which Phoenix Police is investigating as homicides.
Phoenix Police and the Mexican consulate said the three victims were originally from Mexico's southern state of Oaxaca.
According to Phoenix Police Sgt. Philip Krynsky, the investigation remains active. The Consulate of Mexico in Phoenix was already in contact with the victims' families to assist them in repatriating the bodies to Mexico.
Police said the cause of death and if the deaths were related have yet to be determined.
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Phoenix Residents Admit Concerns After Deaths of 3 Mexican Nationals
According to KTAR, police were called about an injured person in a vacant lot near 99th Avenue and Mobile Lane in Phoenix, Arizona at around 1:35 p.m. on February 20.
Officers discovered the remains of the three Mexican nationals when they arrived and said they bore "obvious signs of trauma."
The incident alarmed residents in the area, who admitted to being concerned. Only one street separates the field, where the remains were found, to a subdivision where many families reside with small children.
Resident George Zak told ABC15 Tuesday that they moved to Phoenix's Estrella Village for the view, and it used to be a really quiet place.
He walked the ABC15 crew along a dirt path to the area where investigators discovered the bodies of three men. However, he did not want to get too close, saying that this "kind of stuff just kind of gets to you."
Another resident, Ray Castaneda, also told the outlet that it was a scary situation since they live in a family community.
"We have a lot of children playing in the area and, all of a sudden less than 100 feet away, finding bodies is kind of scary," he noted. Castaneda continued that his family would now be looking into buying and installing security cameras.
Officers previously spoke to residents in the area and told them that the homicide was not connected to the neighborhood, Arizona's Family reported. Homeowners' Associations president Sue Smith expressed relief after hearing it.
"It's scary, no one wants this to happen around their community," Smith said. "I'm thankful it didn't have anything to do with our community specifically."
The Phoenix Police Department asked anyone with information to contact them or Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS/480-TESTIGO.
This article is owned by Latin Post.
Written by: Jess Smith
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