For Uber driver Daniel Piedra Garcia in El Paso, Texas, what ought to have been only a routine run practically proved deadly. After the lady referred to as an Uber to take her to an area on line casino, she pulled out her gun and shot Garcia within the head with out provocation for silly causes.
As a subsequent police investigation revealed, Phoebe Copas, 48, had deliberate to satisfy her boyfriend at Talking Rock On line casino in El Paso. She was on the town and thought it could be an effective way to spend a day collectively.
Mr. Kopas requested a trip round 2:00 pm and started the brief journey to his lodging. However on the best way, she spots an indication on Piedra’s automotive that claims Juarez, Mexico. That seemingly innocuous signal set off a kidnapping alarm in her head that might not be quelled, which led to tragedy.
Kidnapping visions danced in my head
Mexico has lately come below hearth for quite a lot of kidnapping and human trafficking instances. The nation’s place as host nation for the 2026 World Cup has highlighted the issue.
Presumably because of the media consideration, Kopas thought the indicators indicated that Piedra, 52, had kidnapped her and was making an attempt to take her throughout the border. She then took her gun out of her purse and shot him within the head. Piedra then misplaced management of her automobile and crashed.
Kopas’ first response was to not ask for assist. As an alternative, she took an image of the injured man and despatched it to her boyfriend. Solely then did she name the emergency companies.
The incident occurred close to the Bridge of the Americas, which connects El Paso and Juarez. Nonetheless, in accordance with court docket paperwork, police urged it was removed from an space with quick entry to Mexico.
Mr. Kopas did not reside in El Paso, so he most likely wasn’t acquainted with the realm. Her residence is reportedly Tompkinsville, Kentucky.
Piedra continues to be within the hospital on life assist. He’s in crucial situation with accidents to his head and wrists. His household has arrange his GoFundMe web page to boost funds for his upcoming payments. As of the publication of this text, he has reached $10,886 of his $30,000 aim.
Police arrested Kopas and charged him with aggravated assault, however may face costs of manslaughter if Piedra died. She was held in El Paso County Detention Heart on $1 million bail.
Human trafficking is a giant downside in Mexico
Juarez is positioned in Chihuahua, Mexico, simply throughout the border from El Paso. The state has been listed on the US State Division web site as a vacation spot to be “reconsidered” for vacationers resulting from rampant crime and kidnappings.
Human trafficking stays one of many greatest felony acts in Mexico. Just like the unlawful drug commerce, it’s virtually solely managed by cartels.
In March of this 12 months, Mexican police discovered an deserted container on the aspect of a street in Veracruz. There have been 343 individuals trapped there, together with 103 unaccompanied kids, with no strategy to escape.
It isn’t clear why the container was deserted. All of the individuals inside had been from completely different Latin American nations.
Final week, the US Treasury Division introduced it was imposing sanctions on the Mexicali cartel. The Hernandez Salas gang has been linked to the Sinaloa Cartel and is claimed to be a key determine behind human trafficking and immigration within the area.
The top of the group, which reportedly secretly helped some Russians enter america, is Ofelia Hernández Salas. She has been arrested in Mexico and is awaiting extradition to america.
Cartels typically coerce US residents into cooperating with unlawful immigration applications. They could be compelled to behave as liaisons to facilitate paperwork or have their identities stolen to be used by gangs. They’re additionally typically focused for ransom.
Disaster 24, a safety group made up of former CIA officers and navy personnel, has warned all vacationers to keep away from the border city.updated Abduction security evaluation evaluation map Your complete border area presents an “extraordinarily excessive” likelihood of a customer being kidnapped.
(Translate tags) Asia-Pacific Gaming
