Story of brave elderly rancher who killed several drug hitmen amazes Mexico

[News_Editor]

Story of brave elderly rancher who killed several drug hitmen amazes Mexico

2010-11-24 07:19:32 GMT+7 (ICT)

MEXICO CITY (BNO NEWS) -- The story of an elderly Mexican rancher who died while defending his property from drug gunmen who demanded him to surrender his ranch has amazed Mexico.

In a country where several towns have seen an exodus of citizens due to fears of drug-related violence, 77-year-old Alejo Garza Tamez was not intimidated and surprised a group of assassins, killing four of them and injuring two others.

Garza Tamez was later found dead by Marines with two weapons at his side inside the main house of his ranch located in the border state of Tamaulipas.

A group of armed men from an unidentified drug cartel had demanded Garza to surrender his property, as many others had in the past, to them. The elderly businessman, however, denied and decided to defend his property by himself as he did not trust authorities, according to Sandra Garza, the victim's daughter.

The armed gunmen gave him an ultimatum of 24 hours to flee his property by November 13. Instead, Garza told his workers to take the day off as he prepared for battle. He spent the rest of the day gathering his hunting weapons and planning a military-like strategy to defend his residence.

Garza, a skilled hunter, set weapons in the weakest spots of his residence such as windows and doors. At about 4.00 a.m. local time on Sunday, he heard a group of vehicles approaching the entrance of the ranch. Shortly after, a man shouted that they came to take the ranch.

The gunmen fired shots in the air and expected that the occupants would run out terrified. Instead, Garza began shooting at them, killing four. In return, the gunman threw several grenades towards him.

After the shooting ended, the gunmen entered the house and began searching for the individual who had attacked them. The surviving gunmen then fled the ranch and did not take over the ranch as they feared the arrival of the Mexican Army.

The impacts of the grenades left holes in the walls and windows of the residence.

So far, authorities have been able to reconstruct the facts but have not identified the assailants. Taking over properties is a common practice used by drug cartels in the country's drug-plagued north.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2010-11-24

[phaethon]

'Magnificent Seven'? Wee don't neeed no steenkin' 'Magnificent Seven' senor...

[Ulysses G.]

77 years old. He died a hero and took a few dirt-bags with him.

[onnut]

At that age, I would like to think I would be brave enough to do the same. good on him. A hero 100% RIP hard dude.

[slapout]

Some of the old timers on both sides of the border are what could be called the salt of the earth. They have had to endure the druggers trying to take what they want, where and when they want. They have dealt with a harsh climate, people, and living all their life and have persevered. RIP to a type of individual that is sadly being replaced, but he took a toll while going.