Los Angeles

Man From Spain Suspected in Killing Intercepted Trying to Enter US at LAX

A Spanish citizen suspected of killing a victim in Mexico has been intercepted trying to enter the U.S. at Los Angeles International Airport, authorities announced Thursday.

The 19-year-old man, who was intercepted on Monday, admitted to killing the victim on Sunday after finding him with his girlfriend, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesman Jaime Ruiz.

The suspect's name was not immediately available. He arrived from Mexico City and sought to enter the U.S. as a visitor on a pleasure trip, but a CBP officer found him to be nervous and fidgety, lacking a return ticket and carrying a second passport, Ruiz said.

The man was selected for additional examination and officers found a short video on his cell phone showing him kicking an unresponsive person, according to Ruiz.

"The passenger told the CBP officers that prior to flying to the United States he had caught the subject with his girlfriend, hit him over the head with an object and kicked him when he was on the ground,'' Ruiz said.

"The passenger further stated that he had placed the body in the trunk of a vehicle.''

Officials contacted police in Mexico, who located the crime scene and a body in a vehicle trunk, Ruiz said.

The suspect was denied entry to the U.S. and on Tuesday FBI and CBP officials escorted him back to Mexico City, Ruiz said.

Carlos Martel, CBP director of field operations in Los Angeles, called the agents' work "an extraordinary story of vigilance that underscores our critical border security mission.''

"This interception reflects CBP officers' keen observational skills and attention to detail and their sharp investigative techniques, intuitiveness and persistence in discovering a subject that allegedly assaulted and killed another person in Mexico, less than 24 hours (before) his arrival into the United States.''

Copyright City News Service
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