Drug Probe Led Pima County SWAT Team to Shoot Iraq War Vet More Than 60 Times

By James King Fri., May 27 2011 at 3:16 PM

Categories: Oops

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Documents released yesterday by the Pima County Sheriff's Department show that the controversial shooting of an Iraq War vet was the result of a complex drug investigation into the man and his brother.

Jose Guerena, a 26-year-old father of two and veteran of the war, died on May 5, in his home near Tucson when the PCSD's SWAT team stormed his house and shot at him over 60 times.

The drug investigation netted a whopping one bag of marijuana, which was found in a different home also targeted in the investigation.

At the time of the raid, the Arizona Daily Star reports Guerena was holding an assault rifle. SWAT members thought he'd fired at them, but it was learned after authorities unloaded more than 60 rounds into Guerena that the safety on his gun was on and he hadn't fired a shot.

See the video of the shooting below (if video doesn't load, try opening it in the Firefox web browser).

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The one thing you don't hear, is anyone yelling police, or search warrant.
The Pima County Sheriff's office is expecting murder of inactive Marine Jose Guerena to blow over. They are very wrong. I know that many of us here do not want to make enemies of police everywhere; this is understandable and avoidable. I cannot give you all here solid figures and reports of current police officers who are disgusted with the actions of the Pima SWAT, but it is obviously a widespread view of LEOs in AZ and elsewhere that their actions are at least unjustifiable. There is no need to isolate ALL LEOs from the public that they seek to help. In fact, we have the opportunity to isolate the barbarians who have a badge from the Protectors of the public who put barbarians behind bars. Only in this case the barbarians are, falsely, a section of police and have no claim to the honorable tile of "Protector." Police everywhere put up a wall to protect their own in times of stress. But it is obvious that the Pima SWAT have no right to claim to be police, protectors, or even Americans due to their totally heinous and even unprofessional actions. What we must do is to isolate the Pima SWAT from the honorable cops, not let up on the pressure to indict and convict them and see this through till each and every one of the murderers of an honorable Marine serves a proper term in prison. It is obvious that the use of lethal force was totally unjustified in the shooting death of this American Patriot. The circumstances surrounding the shooting indicate incompetent procedure on the part of the Pinal County Sheriff’s dept. S.W.A.T team. One look at the available video demonstrates the actions of poorly trained amateurs. A group of six month Army recruits could perform far better. It is a black mark on our Republic of law that under-trained fools can murder at will under color of law. Respectfully yours Charles Yuditsky.
I am writing with concern to the recent extrajudicial killing of a peaceable, non-criminal inactive Marine in Pima County. It is obvious that the use of lethal force was totally unjustified in the shooting death of this American Patriot. The circumstances surrounding the shooting indicate incompetent procedure on the part of the Pima County Sheriff’s dept. S.W.A.T team. One look at the available video demonstrates the actions of poorly trained amateurs. A group of six month Army recruits could perform far better. It is a black mark on our Republic of law that under-trained fools can murder at will under color of law. Respectfully yours
This is complete bullshit the video proves they didn't say anything that they walked up and opened the door not busted in. Thats why the guy was probably pointing a gun at them cause they just walked up and opened his door. Stupid fucking cops !!!
No, James doesn't usually do a good job of reporting. He's usually a hack like Ray Stern. James said the shooting was the result of a complex drug investigation. It was obviously so complex that the cowardly cops fired into the house without even entering and one of them falls down behind his shield. Very complex pro cop article barely written before it was time for James to go to lunch.
I really hope everyone goes to the polls to support our democracy. If the polls are operated legitimately.
Is there a God? I am an Atheist.
Did you watch the video? There were more piggies than could fit in the doorway, they all lost their shit in their eagerness to empty a clip. At least one guy doesn't look like he could have even seen his target, he was just shooting blind over another cop's shoulder.
The wife's account spells it out. This guy had no idea it was the cops. His wife woke him after she heard noises outside, looked out the window and saw guys with guns creeping up on the house. They thought it was a home invasion. To his credit, Guerena held his fire. The piggies raiding his home did no such thing, firing over seventy rounds, hitting Guerena 60 times, then denying medics access for over an hour afterwards, just to make sure this man bled out and was dead, dead, dead. The cops initially lied about the incident, saying Guerena opened fire on them and their body armor took the brunt of his onslaught, they had no choice but to return fire. Then the lie was exposed, turns out he never fired a single shot, never even took the safety off. They found nothing illegal in his home. But they are trying to make a big deal of the fact that they found several LEGALLY OWNED firearms and a picture of Jesus Malverde. Which they are trying to spin into a yarn about Guerena being in a home invasion gang to somehow justify their actions. Police documents in the case have been sealed, pretty obviously also to obscure the details of the police wrongdoing from public view. James, you usually do a good job, but this is some fairly weak reporting - you could have simply googled what other media outlets have covered and had a much more detailed and compelling story than this in less than 15 minutes. What's up? I hope you're not treading softly because it is Democrat darling Clarence Dupnik rather than Joe Arpayaso or Paul Baboso presiding over this bloodbath.
No one on God's green earth has the right to kick in any man's front door. Don't come here.
not me, im a bad ass motherfucker from Vietnam. I was an office clerk and we were as bad ass as they come back in 67. now im just a fat out of shape jelly belly slob who sweats way to much and I have very bad BODY ODER that I cant get a grip on.
That could happen to any one of us.
who are you talking to or about?
Look at the tug cop who comes in from the left and starts shooting his handgun over the shoulder of another cop. This assclown was just shooting in the blind - what a bunch of jackals.
Iraq war vets are not as tough as us dust off medics were from back in Nam in 67. if the cops messed with this former dust off medic from Nam I would make them suck on the barrel of my .357. they wouldn't shoot me 60 times. after all I am the best.