Border Patrol agent Lonnie Swartz was found not guilty of second-degree murder in the 2012 death of a Jose Antonio Elena Rodríguez. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on two lesser charges of voluntary or involuntary manslaughter. Protesters took to the streets to show their frustration with the verdict.
Border Patrol Agent Trial
Protesters march down Broadway Blvd., shutting down traffic, after Border Patrol agent Lonnie Swartz was found not guilty of second-degree murder on April 23, 2018. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on two lesser charges of voluntary or involuntary manslaughter.
Border Patrol Agent Trial
Protesters block traffic at Congress Street and Sixth Avenue, shutting down traffic, after Border Patrol agent Lonnie Swartz was found not guilty of second-degree murder on April 23, 2018. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on two lesser charges of voluntary or involuntary manslaughter.
Border Patrol Agent Trial
Protesters walk east from the intersection of Congress Street and Granada Avenue, shutting down traffic, after Border Patrol agent Lonnie Swartz was found not guilty of second-degree murder on April 23, 2018. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on two lesser charges of voluntary or involuntary manslaughter.
Border Patrol Agent Trial
Imelda Cortez, center, joined 15 other people wearing veils and holding candles, to represent in 16 bullets that were fired and killed Jose Antonio Elena Rodríguez during a protest on April 23, 2018. Border Patrol agent Lonnie Swartz was found not guilty of second-degree murder, but the jury was unable to reach a verdict on two lesser charges of voluntary or involuntary manslaughter.
Border Patrol Agent Trial
Protesters gather in front of the Evo A. DeConcini U.S. Courthouse after Border Patrol agent Lonnie Swartz was found not guilty of second-degree murder on April 23, 2018. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on two lesser charges of voluntary or involuntary manslaughter.
Border Patrol Agent Trial
Protesters gather in front of the Evo A. DeConcini U.S. Courthouse after Border Patrol agent Lonnie Swartz was found not guilty of second-degree murder on April 23, 2018. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on two lesser charges of voluntary or involuntary manslaughter.
Border Patrol Agent Trial
Protesters gather in front of the Evo A. DeConcini U.S. Courthouse after Border Patrol agent Lonnie Swartz was found not guilty of second-degree murder on April 23, 2018. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on two lesser charges of voluntary or involuntary manslaughter.
Border Patrol Agent Trial
Protesters gather in front of the Evo A. DeConcini U.S. Courthouse after Border Patrol agent Lonnie Swartz was found not guilty of second-degree murder on April 23, 2018. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on two lesser charges of voluntary or involuntary manslaughter.
Border Patrol Agent Trial
Isabel Garcia makes a passionate speech as protesters gather in front of the Evo A. DeConcini U.S. Courthouse after Border Patrol agent Lonnie Swartz was found not guilty of second-degree murder on April 23, 2018. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on two lesser charges of voluntary or involuntary manslaughter.
Border Patrol Agent Trial
Protesters stand in the intersection of Congress Street and Granada Avenue, shutting down traffic, after Border Patrol agent Lonnie Swartz was found not guilty of second-degree murder on April 23, 2018. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on two lesser charges of voluntary or involuntary manslaughter.
Border Patrol Agent Trial
Protesters walk east from the intersection of Congress Street and Granada Avenue, shutting down traffic, after Border Patrol agent Lonnie Swartz was found not guilty of second-degree murder on April 23, 2018. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on two lesser charges of voluntary or involuntary manslaughter.
Border Patrol Agent Trial
Protesters block traffic at Congress Street and Sixth Avenue, after Border Patrol agent Lonnie Swartz was found not guilty of second-degree murder on April 23, 2018. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on two lesser charges of voluntary or involuntary manslaughter.
Border Patrol Agent Trial
Protesters block traffic at Pennington Street and Sixth Avenue, after Border Patrol agent Lonnie Swartz was found not guilty of second-degree murder on April 23, 2018. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on two lesser charges of voluntary or involuntary manslaughter.
Border Patrol Agent Trial
Protesters shut down traffic at Congress Street and Interstate-10 ramps after Border Patrol agent Lonnie Swartz was found not guilty of second-degree murder on April 23, 2018. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on two lesser charges of voluntary or involuntary manslaughter.
Border Patrol Agent Trial
A driver expresses his frustration as protesters shut down traffic at Congress Street and Interstate-10 ramps after Border Patrol agent Lonnie Swartz was found not guilty of second-degree murder on April 23, 2018. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on two lesser charges of voluntary or involuntary manslaughter.
Border Patrol Agent Trial
Protesters shut down traffic at Congress Street and Interstate-10 ramps after Border Patrol agent Lonnie Swartz was found not guilty of second-degree murder on April 23, 2018. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on two lesser charges of voluntary or involuntary manslaughter.
Border Patrol Agent Trial
Drivers watch and take photos as protesters shut down traffic at Congress Street and Interstate-10 ramps after Border Patrol agent Lonnie Swartz was found not guilty of second-degree murder on April 23, 2018. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on two lesser charges of voluntary or involuntary manslaughter.
Border Patrol Agent Trial
Protesters shut down traffic at Congress Street and Interstate-10 ramps after Border Patrol agent Lonnie Swartz was found not guilty of second-degree murder on April 23, 2018. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on two lesser charges of voluntary or involuntary manslaughter.
Border Patrol Agent Trial
Drivers watch and take photos as protesters shut down traffic at Congress Street and Interstate-10 ramps after Border Patrol agent Lonnie Swartz was found not guilty of second-degree murder on April 23, 2018. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on two lesser charges of voluntary or involuntary manslaughter.
Border Patrol Agent Trial
A counter-protester, second from right, shouts back at protesters at Congress Street and Interstate-10 ramps after Border Patrol agent Lonnie Swartz was found not guilty of second-degree murder on April 23, 2018. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on two lesser charges of voluntary or involuntary manslaughter.
No matter the evidence, there seems to be a mistaken belief that once a human being puts on a badge their judgment is infallible.
One 2017 incident in which seven agents were assaulted was counted as 126 assaults.
The fact that Jose Antonio Elena Rodriguez was killed in Mexico does not overcome the fact that the action started in Arizona with the bullets fired by Lonnie Swartz, a majority of the panel for the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals says.
Agent Lonnie Swartz is acquitted in the 2012 cross-border shooting death of a Mexican teen.
Araceli Rodriguez, the mother of 16-year-old Jose Antonio Elena Rodriguez who Swartz admittedly shot and killed, is still pursuing what amounts to a wrongful death claim against the agent.