Arizona Rancher on Trial for Fatal Shooting of Migrant near Mexican Border

The trial of Arizona rancher George Alan Kelly in the fatal shooting of a migrant on his property near Mexico has captured the attention of the nation as the debate over border security intensifies. Kelly, 75, is facing charges of second-degree murder for the killing of 48-year-old Gabriel Cuen-Buitimea on his nearly 170-acre cattle ranch in Nogales, Arizona.

The trial, which began on Friday in Santa Cruz County Superior Court, is expected to last up to a month. Kelly had rejected a plea deal that would have reduced the charge to negligent homicide, opting to plead not guilty instead. His case has drawn support from some on the political right, with fundraising efforts for his defense being shut down due to the charges against him.

Kelly’s defense attorney, Brenna Larkin, argued that her client feared for his safety and that of his wife and property as he encountered a group of unarmed migrants on his land. Larkin claimed that Kelly had shot into the air above the migrants out of self-defense, as he believed they were armed and menacing.

Prosecutors, however, argued that Kelly recklessly fired an AK-47 rifle toward the migrants, with one man being fatally shot and another injured. The trial is set to hear testimony from witnesses, including Daniel Ramirez, a Honduran migrant who was present during the shooting.

The case has sparked political debate about border security, coming on the heels of a similar incident in West Texas where twin brothers were arrested for shooting and killing a migrant. The outcome of Kelly’s trial could have far-reaching implications for the ongoing discussion about immigration and border control in the United States.