2nd Day of Trial for Two Men Accused of ICE Agent Shooting
BROWNSVILLE – Wednesday was the second day of the trial of two men accused in the ambush shooting of two U.S. ICE agents over six years ago.
Jose Emanuel Garcia-Sota and Jesus Ivan Quezada-Piña are two remaining co-defendants in the case. Five others accused have plead guilty to their charges.
ICE Special Agents Victor Avila and Jaime Zapata, of Brownsville, were trapped on a highway near Saltillo, Mexico. Cartel gunmen opened fire on them. Zapata was killed, while Avila was seriously wounded.
Trey Martinez, the family’s attorney, explained it has been an emotional six years for both families.
Mary Zapata, Jaime’s mom, took the stand Tuesday. Martinez said he was not there at the time, but spoke with her about her chance to face the defendants.
Martinez described “she felt very relieved to look at these attackers in the eye and talk about her son. Talk about the person he was.”
Martinez said going into the trial there are many unanswered questions. In the end, he believes not all of the family’s questions will be answered.
He expects the trail to continue on through the end of next week.