Remembering Esequiel Hernandez Jr.

From Wikipedia:

Esequiel Hernández, Jr. (May 14, 1979 – May 20, 1997) was an 18-year-old American high school student killed on May 20, 1997 by United States Marines in Redford, Texas, located approximately one mile from the United States–Mexico border.^[1] Hernández was the first American civilian to be killed by active United States Armed Forces while they were on duty since the student massacre at Kent State University in 1970^[2] and led to Defense Secretary William Cohen issuing a temporary suspension of troop patrols near the U.S.–Mexico border.^[3] The shooting inspired the 2005 movie The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada by Tommy Lee Jones, and the 2007 documentary The Ballad of Esequiel Hernandez.^[4]

Death

U.S. Marines on drug patrol heavily camouflaged in ghillie suits came upon Hernández herding goats. The camouflaged Marines observed the 18 year old high school student from concealment at a distance of approximately 200 yards maintaining radio contact with their unit.^[5] Hernández, who was carrying a .22 caliber rifle that family members said he used to fend off predators, shot in the direction of the Marines.^[1] Continuing to call for Border Patrol assistance, the Marines proceeded to track Hernández for twenty minutes, until the Marine fire-team leader shot and killed Hernandez. The bullet entered Hernandez' armpit on his right side.^[6]

Investigation

A congressional investigation into the killing was scheduled for September 1997.^[7] A grand jury examined the fatal shooting and considered criminal charges against the four Marines,^[8] but did not indict any of the Marines involved in the shooting.^[9] The Justice Department subsequently dropped its investigation.^[10] The Marines also investigated the killing.^[11] In 1998, the U.S. government paid his family $1.9 million to settle a wrongful death claim.^[12] The U.S. Marine who fatally shot Hernández was not charged.^[13]