When Shaeed Woodard and his friends went to Mexico for medical purposes, little did they know that they would be caught in a middle of a gang war that would cost him his life. The infamous Gulf cartel kidnapped him and his friends, and the aftermath has left his family and friends reeling,

Friends and family gathered in Lake City, South Carolina, on Saturday to pay tribute to Woodard, one of the two Americans killed by the Gulf cartel after they were kidnapped.

Photos of him as a peewee football player flashed on a screen as over 100 people came to his funeral.

Woodard and Zindell Brown died in the incident, while Latavia McGee and Eric Williams survived. As the entire town was mourning, spiritual leaders rejected vengeful thinking.

"We are asking you to give us a clean heart. Because no cartel, no demon, no evil spirit, no hellmaker, no one... We won't seek retribution," Minister Dearest Price said. "But, Lord, we ask you to deliver us from evil."

According to the Associated Press, since his body was turned over to U.S. authorities earlier this month, the Woodard family has received an outpouring of support.

Sympathy cards from local officials were read at the funeral. A nearby activist network also promised to raise money for the family following Woodard's death at the hands of the Gulf cartel.

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Family and Friends Remember Mexico Kidnapping Victim Shaeed Woodard

During his funeral at the Good News Deliverance Temple Church in Lake City, people spoke about Shaeed Woodard, who was only 33 when he and his friends were kidnapped on March 3 by elements of the Gulf cartel in Tamaulipas, Mexico.

Nisheeka Simmons, Woodard's cousin, was one of those who spoke at his eulogy. She said he was beloved by all who cared to know him, and their family was "tight-knit."

According to Yahoo! News, Woodard was described as someone strong in personality and beliefs and soft-spoken, yet when he had something to say, he made himself heard.

He was also described as a boy who began all his sentences with "Hmm" and loved Honey Buns.

Gulf Cartel in Mexico May Have Mistaken Americans for Haitian Smugglers

The Gulf cartel, also known as the Cartel del Golfo (CDG), largely controlled Matamoros in Mexico. Their attack on the Americans was likely a case of mistaken identity. 

According to the Global Guardian, they might have mistaken the four tourists for Haitian smugglers. As the van that Woodard and the others were in was passing by, they were fired upon by cartel members.

Another woman was killed by stray gunfire while the van crashed. The video showed Latavia McGee being forced into another vehicle while the others who were injured were forced into the back of a pickup truck.

A few days later, the four Americans from South Carolina were found after an intensive search by Mexican security forces. Two were dead, another was injured but alive, while the fourth remained uninjured.

The cartel willingly gave up the men responsible for the incident and even wrote an apology letter.

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This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

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