As the outpour of support continues for the family of slain U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Special Agent Jaime Zapata, so do new details surrounding the case.
Zapata's body is back in the U.S. It arrived at the Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston Wednesday evening.
No word yet on when it will arrive in Brownsville, but the Brownsville Police Department is ready to welcome the body home.
"We made some offers here about police services for funeral services as far as security,” Police Chief Carlos Garcia said. “We understand that maybe high dignitary officials from Washington will be here."
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said Zapata and a second ICE agent identified as Victor Avila were gunned down in the state of San Luis Potosí as the special agents were traveling from Monterrey to Mexico City. Zapata’s close friends are still in shock.
“My reaction to the call was stop messing around with me - you're lying," a close friend said.
Reports said the agents were being followed by a vehicle until that vehicle finally boxed the agents' vehicle in. According to reports, when the agents identified themselves, the shooters opened fire.
"I wish our government would take more actions to make sure these guys that are out there doing things that normal people like you and I won't do to make them more secure," Zapata’s friend said.
According to one unidentified ICE agent the gunmen knew they were opening fire on American federal agents.
The governor of San Luis Potosí blames the attack on Mexican drug cartel hit men. But no matter who is to blame for the act of violence, Brownsville Chief Garcia said it hit too close to home.
"It's an individual here from Brownsville, from the Valley it's one of our fellow officers on assignment doing his job in the line of duty,” Garcia said. Whatever his assignment in Mexico, he was there representing our country."
While Zapata did not survive five shots in the abdomen Avila did survive two shots in the leg.
Avila has been released from a Houston hospital and is now debriefing agents on the details of the attack. He is in stable condition.
Chief Garcia said the City of Brownsville is prepared to welcome dignitaries from Washington and all of Zapata’s family and friends.
The city has offered the Brownsville Events Center as a venue for funeral services.
Tune in to Action 4 News for the latest developments in this case.
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