Guerena didn't shoot bullets at SWAT team that killed him

Jose Guerena, a 26 year old Marine, has been shot and killed by SWAT officers who did not discover any criminal products or items in his home. Guerena did not fire on police officers, and was a veteran of 2 tours. Several people are up in arms over the incident. The validity of the search and the shooting are being debated.v

Several shots by the SWAT officers

SWAT officers went from the Pima County Sheriff’s office to Jose Guerena’s home with a search warrant on May 5. CNN states the officers found him with an AR-15 rifle and fired at him. There has been some debate on how many times he was shot as ABC reported he was shot 60 times. CNN states he was shot 22 times though. Not one shot was fired by Guerena. In fact, his rifle’s safety was still on when it happened. Vanessa Guerena, his wife, called paramedics, but the police prevented them from entering the house until after he had died.

Arrest not needed

The law enforcement obtained a warrant for entering the Guerenas’ house on the suspicion that Guerena had been part of a narcotic smuggling and robbery ring. He is alleged to have taken part in a series of home invasions, using assault weapons and wearing paramilitary style clothing. Guns, body armor and a “piece of law enforcement-style clothing” were found in the home, according to the Arizona Daily Star. Mike Storie, the lawyer for the SWAT officers, according to KGUN Tucson, has been quoted as saying that Guerena had nothing in his home that would have been cause to arrest him. Clarence Dupnik is the Pima County Sheriff. He was upset that so many questions about legality have been asked by the press. As soon as the shooting was over, Dupnik said that officers were shot at by Guerena. Later he said Guerena really did not shoot at them.

No paramedics allowed in the house

Paramedics made it to the scene within two minutes of Jose Guerena’s shooting. Medical personnel weren’t able to get in to help Guerena. The police waited until after Guerena died for over an hour after they got there. The home also had a portrait of Jesus Malverde, considered a “patron saint” of narcotic runners. Just like American outlaws such as Billy the Kid and Jesse James, Malverde has become a hero of sorts even though he may have never really existed, reports Wikipedia. There was nothing illegal found in the house while there is still no guarantee that there were or were not drugs in the house. Guerena had two children, who were ages 6 and 4, and worked for the Asarco copper mine.

Information from

CNN

cnn.com/2011/CRIME/05/27/arizona.marine.death/index.html?hpt=T2

Arizona Daily Star

azstarnet.com/news/local/article_47d3b9b2-8345-11e0-a48d-001cc4c03286.html

KGUN Tuscon

kgun9.com/story/14682200/guerena-family-attorney-responds-to-swat-lawyer

ABC

abcnews.go.com/US/tucson-swat-team-defends-shooting-iraq-marine-veteran/story?id=13640112