A U.S. teenager was shot dead by authorities in Oaxaca on Tuesday after he went out to buy soda for a gathering to celebrate a friend's birthday. The case is the latest incident of abuse and brutality involving Mexican police officers.

The 16-year-old, who was identified as Alexander Matinez Gomez, was shot at from a patrol car on the street, Quadratin reported. While details of the shooting remain unclear, Mexican newspaper Reforma claimed the victim was riding a motorcycle with a 15-year-old boy.

In an article by ESPN, the police officer was reportedly patrolling with its vehicle lights off when it blocked the way of Gomez and eight other young people. The officer stepped out of his vehicle and opened fire with a shotgun. Martinez, who was at the front of the group, received a head-on shot, while another boy was hospitalized due to injuries sustained after his motorcycle skidded.

According to Gomez's cousin, Dulce Darian, the 15 and the 16-year-old boys ran away from police officers due to fear. He also accused the cops of refusing to give the victim first aid, resulting in his death.

"They didn't give them the option to stop or take off their face masks. They simply started to shoot, and they shot him in the head," Darian said, as reported by The Guardian.

Remembering Gomez

Alexander Gomez was a healthy youngster whose only vice was playing football, said Virginia Gomez, the victim's mother.

The semi-professional footballer's death sparked outrage in Mexico where cases of killings often go unremarked. During his funeral on Thursday, Gomez's coffin was placed on the ground and angled in front of a goal frame. A teammate kicked a ball against it, causing the ball to rebound into the goal to applause.

Police Abuse

Gomez's death came after Mexicans protested the death of 30-year-old bricklayer, Giovanni Lopez who died after three officers beat him to death.

According to ANF News, official statements claim the arrest was due to the victim's violent behavior. However, witnesses asserted the incident occurred after the victim was seen not wearing a mask-a requirement under the state's laws aimed at combatting the spread of the virus.

On May 5, the day of the arrest, Lopez's family members were told he had been transferred to the Civil Hospital of Guadalajara. However, staffers at the hospital redirected them to the Forensic Medical Service where his body was found bruised and bearing signs of torture.

In early June, five protesters also revealed they were abducted by plainclothes officers while heading to a protest against police brutality. Law enforcement workers also arrested and held over 80 protesters incommunicado in Guadalajara on the weekend when protests on racism and police abuse swept across multiple nations.

Protesters were robbed of their valuables, while others were shot with tasers or beaten with clubs. Some were taken to abandoned areas in Guadalajara's outskirts.


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