A phone call between a Border Patrol agent and local law enforcement shines new light on an incident on an Arizona ranch that led to George Alan Kelly being charged with murder.
A Border Patrol agent questions whether or not Kelly is “crazy” in the phone call, speaking to a dispatcher of the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office, according to Fox News.
The call between the two agencies was made on Jan. 30, the same day that a Mexican illegal immigrant was found dead on the property of the Arizona rancher.
Kelly had reported that a group of armed strangers had trespassed on his property the same day, just miles north of the U.S. — Mexico border.
“I’m sorry, man. I hate to do this to you. I don’t know for sure this guy’s getting shot at or not,” the Border Patrol agent said of Kelly’s reports in the call, according to Fox.
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“What sometimes happens is some of our customers go through his property, and then, I don’t know if he’s crazy or what’s going on.”
The federal agent indicated that Kelly had previously reported the trespassers had a weapon in a call to a Customs and Border Protection ranch liaison.
The agent earlier indicated that there were “five [individuals] on the guy’s property, but with the guy chasing after them.”
“It sounds to me like the caller — the person that initially called us — has a rifle and somebody in that group of five has a rifle.”
Do you think Kelly acted in self-defense?
Yes: 98% (52 Votes)
No: 2% (1 Votes)
Kelly described finding a dead “animal” in another 911 call requesting police assistance.
AZ: 74 y/o rancher, George Alan Kelly tells Santa Cruz Co. Sheriff’s dispatch there was an animal lying face down on his property and they needed to send officers—After a Mexican citizen was found shot dead on the ranch.
*Clips edited together—Full audio: https://t.co/MK9cTpzUvX pic.twitter.com/LwiJDhEZ5Q
— Ali Bradley (@AliBradleyTV) March 10, 2023
Kelly’s attorney said he encountered a deceased man hours after firing warning shots at a group of armed trespassers on his property.
The deceased was ultimately identified as Gabriel Cuen-Buitimea, a Mexican national who had entered the United States illegally.
Kelly has received support from Americans who oppose the porous state of the nation’s southern border.
Donors funded his $1 million cash bond on the fundraising platform GiveSendGo, ensuring Kelly can prepare his defense out of custody.
The rancher has plead not guilty to charges of aggravated assault and second-degree murder in the case.
Kelly’s trial is set for September.
