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Murdered teen's family reacts to arrests
Posted: 09.06.2011 at 8:11 PM
Daisy Barrera

Daisy is a reporter for Action 4 News.

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A grief-stricken Miguel Sosa made funeral arrangements Tuesday, for his little brother 17-year-old Jose Francisco Araujo, who he called “Baby Face.”

"There's a lot of pain going on, but at least we found the body,” Sosa said. “There's some family members that never find their loved ones. I have no clue why it happened, but I don’t think anyone deserves to take any one’s life away."

Brownsville Police said Araujo was shot and killed by two 17 year olds believed to be his friends.

The suspects, Roberto Ortega and Eric Hernandez, have charged with murder.

Sosa said his family is glad someone is being held responsible for the crime.

Police have not yet released a motive for the shooting, but said Ortega and Hernandez lured Araujo, shot him with a handgun and left his body in a field, behind Los Cedros Apartments.

They said the teens have been cooperating with the investigation and one of the teenagers even told investigators he has ties to a drug cartel. However, police have not confirmed that, but said they will investigate all possibilities.

Sosa said his brother had nothing to do with organized crime.

"My brother was a good kid - he was a good kid,” Sosa said. “He was 17 years old (and) he had a bright future."

Sosa said he doesn’t know what would constitute an appropriate punishment for his brother’s alleged killers, but said the tragedy proves there should be stricter gun laws.

"Whoever did it, is going to pay for the crime and (the suspects are) just kids,” Sosa said. “There has to be some kind of law - do more back ground checks or track the guns."


Police and family discredit allegations that Araujo had been dismembered and even decapitated by his alleged murderers.

Funeral services for Jose Francisco Araujo begin Wednesday, Sept. 7, at Guerra Funeral Home at 3955 Jaime J. Zapata (Coffee Port Road), from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., with a Rosary at 7 p.m.

Church services are tentatively scheduled for Thursday at St. Mary's Church at 1914 Barnard Rd., with burial following at La Palma Cemetery on Alton Gloor. 

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