UPDATE: Two Suspects Charged for Coast Guard Officer Death
UPDATE | Dec. 03 3:37 P.M. PST
Two Mexican nationals were charged Monday with killing a U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer near the Channel Islands.
Jose Meija-Leyva and Manuel Beltran-Higuera were accused of the death of Chief Petty Officer Terrell Horne, 34, on Sunday when a small panga-type vessel off the coast of Malibu rammed their boat.
The U.S. Attorney's Office said Horne was struck in the head by a boat propeller.
Horne was pronounced dead at Port Hueneme, where both he and an unidentified officer were transported after both being thrown into the water during the collision, according to Adam Eggers of the Coast Guard.
The other USCG member, who was not identified, suffered a non-life threatening knee laceration, according to prosecutors.
Horne and the other USCG member were assigned to the Cutter Halibut, an 87-foot vessel based in Marina Del Rey. According to USCG Petty Officer Seth Johnson, the Halibut was tracking a smuggling boat off Santa Cruz Island around 1 a.m. Sunday. This is when the boat was struck by a “Mexican-style” panga boat that was traveling at a “high rate of speed,” according to Eggers.
Customs and Border Patrol and Coast Guard ships were able to chase the panga and arrest two people on board, according to Johnson.
Horne leaves behind a pregnant wife and a young daughter.
U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano conveyed her deep sadness about Horne’s death. “This tragedy reminds us of the dangers our men and women in uniform face every day, and they great risks they willingly take, as they protect our nation,” she said.
Meija-Leyva and Beltran-Higuera have an arraignment set for Dec. 21.
Yet another law enforcement officer dies while attempting to uphold a failed public policy that has triggered the worst crime wave in history.
Yet another law enforcement officer dies while attempting to prevent the citizens of this 'once proud and free' nation from choosing to self-medicate with one of God's most amazing plants.
Yet another law enforcement officer dies in order that unconscionable Transnational Corporations, and their Media Enablers, can continue to abuse, addict and poison us for obscene profits.