On Friday, Manuel Osorio-Arellanes was arraigned in a Tucson federal courtroom for second-degree murder, conspiracy to assault a federal officer and firearms possession charges in connection to the December shooting death of U.S. Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry.
Though others have also been charged in Agent Terry’s death, the Justice Department has sealed their names.
Osorio-Arellanes is scheduled to go on trial on June 17, if convicted, the Mexican national faces up to life in prison.
On December 14, 2010, Agent Brian Terry was shot to death in the Arizona desert, while patrolling one of the region's most dangerous drug and human smuggling corridors. He was actually looking for Mexican bandits who typically prey on those crossing into this country illegally.
Agent Terry encountered a group of those bandits and was shot in the back with an AK-47. The bullet went through his protective vest and ripped through his pelvis. He soon succumbed to his wounds.
Terry was a former Marine and a police officer in Lincoln Park, Michigan. He had been a Border Patrol agent for three years. In his quest for a lifetime of service to his nation, he had plans to become a Secret Service agent.
His sister, Michelle, told The Associated Press: “It was his life. He said it was very dangerous, but he loved what he did and wanted to make a difference.”
Terry is survived by his father, Kent Terry, his mother, Josephine Terry, his stepmother, Carol Terry, sisters Michelle Terry Balogh and Kelly Terry Willis, and brother, Kent G. Terry.
Shortly after he was murdered, his stepmother, Carol Terry spoke of her stepson’s relationship with his devastated father: “Brian just loved his dad. He would do absolutely anything for him. And Brian was his dad’s hero. Every time Brian went out on a mission he would call his dad to tell him he was leaving. Then, when returned from each mission, he would call his dad to let him know that he was back. So we knew Brian had gone out on a mission Tuesday evening. That was the last time we ever heard from him.”
She continued: “What really hurts so much is that he died protecting illegal immigrants.”
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