George Alan Kelly
The Mexican government wants murder charges upgraded against an Arizona rancher after he illegally shot on his property.
George Alan Kelly, 73, was arrested on Jan. 30 for killing Gabriel Kuen-Butimia at his Arizona ranch in Kino Springs, outside Nogales, Mexico.
Kelly was being held in the Santa Cruz County Jail on $1 million bond, but he posted bail and was released from custody last Wednesday.
According to reports, Gabriel Kuen-Butimia has a history of illegally crossing into the United States and multiple deportations.
Authorities found a Mexican voter registration card on the deceased.
According to defense lawyers, Mr. Kelly fired warning shots after seeing a group of men in camouflage clothing.
Attorneys said George Alan Kelly was too cautious to shoot himself in the head.
A shepherd goes to check on his horse and discovers a dead man.
George Alan Kelly was initially charged with first-degree murder, but a judge recently reduced his charge to second-degree murder during an evidentiary hearing in court.
“That’s a significant change in the charge,” Judge Emilio Velasquez said. “Second degree murder is a more complex theory of the case for both the state and the defense.”
Kelly’s lawyers entered a ‘not guilty’ plea during the hearing last Friday.
The Mexican government has told prosecutors to upgrade the murder charges against George Alan Kelly because he killed an unarmed Mexican citizen.
The illegal alien who shot George Alan Kelly on his property could have been a cartel drug smuggler, according to a former border patrol chief.
Fox News reported:
A Mexican official said Friday that the government wants an Arizona rancher accused of killing a migrant who crossed his property to face more severe charges.
Vanessa Calva, Mexico’s head of consular protection, told US prosecutors the Mexican government believes Kelly should face first-degree murder charges. They said Kuen-Butimiya, 48, was unarmed, fleeing and shot in the back.
Prosecutors allege Kelly opened fire with an AK-47 rifle on about eight unarmed migrants he encountered at his ranch on Jan. 30, hitting Kuehn-Butimia as they tried to flee. Two migrants in the group later told authorities that Kelly shot at them, but he was not hit and escaped over a fence into Mexico.
Kelly’s attorney, Brenna Larkin, said her client has fired warning shots at immigrants and that he fears for the safety of himself, his wife and his property. He said he saw people with AK-47 rifles and backpacks passing through the property.
