Who is Christian Martinez? Organizer of Texas migrant death truck could also face DEATH SENTENCE
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS: A man, who allegedly planned the smuggling of at least 73 migrants, had texted desperately to the truck driver when its location was not tracked down. Christian Martinez was apparently the co-conspirator with the 45-year-old driver, Homero Zamorano, who was taking people to the US illegally, 53 of whom died because of heat.
It has been said that the 28-year-old accused was taken into custody on Tuesday, June 28. He was pressed with a trafficking charge involving death and if found guilty, he could face life imprisonment or the death sentence. The criminal complaint filed against Martinez has reportedly provided the details of the messages exchanged between the two alleged accusers.
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A Daily Beast report said that “the first text came at 12:17 pm Monday when Martinez texted his alleged accomplice a photo of the semi-truck’s ‘manifest.’ Zamorano allegedly replied two minutes later, ‘I go to the same spot.’” The report citing the official complaint also stated that 30 minutes after the first message was sent, Martinez — who apparently was a worker at Walmart — sent another message containing an address to the driver. The address was “3108 Chacon Street in Laredo, Texas” but Zamorano apparently did not reply to that text, which left Martinez anxious as he went on to send numerous messages to him. But he did not receive any response.
A lengthy criminal history in the U.S. for Homero Zamorano, the man Mexican authorities say drove the big rig where 53 migrants died.
— Marcelino Benito (@MarcelinoKHOU) June 29, 2022
Among charges in records: reckless injury to elderly & multiple drug offenses.
One of his prior arrests happened in Houston back in 2004. pic.twitter.com/4OP6byYJxj
“The complaint says he texted a shorthand version of ‘where you at bro?’ at 1:40 pm. Martinez allegedly texted three more times at 3:18 pm, sending: ‘Call me bro,’ ‘Yes,’ ‘Call me bro.’ The feds say Martinez sent a final text at 6:17 pm, again texting the initials: ‘Wya?’” The Daily Beast report noted.
According to authorities, as Martinez was sending messages back to back, the driver was taking the truck through the Laredo checkpoint as he was spotted by security cameras. Then he went towards the rural, southwest end of San Antonio, before leaving the truck next to railroad tracks at approximatley six in the evening. The reason behind that step is not known. Law enforcement officials were called to the location by nearby people after migrants, who luckily survived, inside the truck screamed for help.
Zamorano was also arrested while he was trying to hide in thr bushes. He is also expected to face the same charges as Martinez. Apart from them, police also detained Francisco D’Luna-Bilbao and Juan Claudio D’Luna-Mendez, two Mexican nationals. Both of them have been charged with possession of weapons while staying unlawfully in the US — the punishment regarding this charge is a maximum of 10 years behind bars.
Meanwhile, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has reportedly held President Joe Biden responsible for the incident. He said, “These deaths are on Biden. They are a result of his deadly open border policies. They show the deadly consequences of his refusal to enforce the law.”
But RAICES San Antonio, a refugee and immigrant center, claimed, “We are horrified and dismayed by the horrific and tragic loss of life last night in our community here in San Antonio. At least 50 lives were lost because of an immigration system that dehumanizes and criminalizes those who seek asylum within our borders.”