Lucio R. Borderland Beat-republished from KRGV (follow link for news video)
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Saida De La Torre said she hopes the Mexican soldiers who wounded her and her daughter will be held responsible. She said the Mexican government promised to help fix her bullet-riddled SUV. De La Torre hopes they keep their word.
Both mother and daughter were hit by flying bullets. De La Torre said the incident happened when she was visiting family in Camargo, Mexico.
“I was going to pick up my oldest daughter and was on the road, when we heard gun shots,” De La Torre said. “I told my cousin that we needed to go back to my parent's house, because it looked like something was going down. When I made a turn, I saw a vehicle with soldiers traveling really fast.”
De La Torre said she saw a black vehicle speeding by. It looked similar to her Dodge Nitro. She pulled over until the road was clear, and then she headed back to her parents’ home.
Out of nowhere, soldiers reappeared. They were right behind De La Torre.
“Everything seemed to be normal while I was driving back, but then I heard gun shots again,” De La Torre said.
“They sounded a lot closer. I began to realize the soldiers were following me. I thought they were following the truck that I had seen speeding,” she said. “I think they got confused and thought my truck was the one they were first chasing. They started firing at us.”
“They sounded a lot closer. I began to realize the soldiers were following me. I thought they were following the truck that I had seen speeding,” she said. “I think they got confused and thought my truck was the one they were first chasing. They started firing at us.”
De La Torre rushed to her parents’ home.
“I got to the house,” De La Torre said. “I got off the truck and ran toward my father who was outside. I screamed to him that they were shooting at us. The soldiers pulled up and parked right behind my truck,” she said. “They got off with their weapons drawn. My father spoke out and questioned their motives.”
At the time, De La Torre said she checked on her daughter and cousin. She saw that her baby girl had been shot in the back.
Fragments of the bullets hit me on the face, my hands and my legs, that's it.” De La Torre said. “My little girl did get hit with a bullet. I didn't realize it until I got to the house, and I went to get her out of the truck. That's when I saw she was wounded.”
De La Torre’s father pleaded with the officers. He told them that they needed to get the child to the hospital.
The soldier’s checked De La Torre’s vehicle. De La Torre guessed they were looking for drugs or anything illegal. They didn’t find anything.
One of the soldiers said it was time to go. De La Torre said they left with smiles on their faces.
De La Torre filed a report with local authorities. They told her they found the suspects they were initially chasing.
“They came to me and offered their apologies,” De La Torre said. “I could tell that they meant what they said. They treated us well during this whole process.”
De La Torre’s daughter underwent surgery and was released from a San Antonio hospital on Monday. She said hospital officials are concerned for the child’s well-being. They have to return for a checkup on Friday and in the weeks ahead.
The Mexican army told CHANNEL 5 NEWS they are investigating this case. De La Torre said they promised to repair her truck or help her buy a new one. She said she hopes they come through with their promise.