U.S. Marine Corps veteran shot dead by cartel gunmen in Mexico

Gunmen apparently moving for a supplier cartel killed an American successful Mexico, and 1 of nan alleged killers was a deserter from Honduras' statesmanlike defender unit, authorities successful bluish Mexico said.

Arizona resident Nicholas Quets was changeable to decease connected Oct. 18 adjacent a state position betwixt nan towns of Altar and Caborca, successful nan separator authorities of Sonora. Local media reported that Quets was walking to nan formation edifice of Puerto Peñasco, besides known arsenic Rocky Point, astatine nan clip of nan attack. His conveyance whitethorn person passed a cartel roadway checkpoint conscionable earlier nan killing, section media reported.

Quets' family told CBS connection KOLD-TV he was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran.

"The unsocial point astir him is that he was a protector, and he wouldn't moreover wounded a flea that would origin harm to personification else," his begetter Doug told nan station. "Because of that characteristic, he had a wide, wide circle of friends."  

 Nicholas Quets GoFundMe

Prosecutors successful nan bluish authorities of Sonora said precocious Tuesday the Honduran fishy and a companion had been "neutralized" successful nan municipality of Altar aft they opened occurrence connected information forces. Neutralized is simply a word utilized successful Mexican rule enforcement to mean killed.

The prosecutor's office released video of nan suspects connected societal media.

Prosecutors said nan Honduran fishy — who, for illustration nan others, was not identified by his afloat sanction — had an outstanding warrant for desertion from Honduras' statesmanlike grant guard. Drug cartels successful Mexico often enlistee erstwhile subject members from Central and South America. He is being held successful custody for investigation connected weapons and supplier charges.

Prosecutors said they had besides arrested 2 different suspects successful nan sidesplitting of Quets. One was identified arsenic a "Delta," a pack that useful for nan Chapitos, a faction of nan Sinaloa supplier cartel.

Quets' family told KOLD-TV they are heartbroken aft losing their 31-year-old son, who went by Nick.

"With thing I had to do, I would say, 'Well, I'll conscionable hold until Nick gets here,'" his begetter Doug said. "Knowing Nick's not going to beryllium present to do that, is simply a void we're going to person a difficult clip getting past."

The family told KOLD-TV that Quets had deployed to countries astir nan world, including Australia and nations successful Southeast Asia.

The family has group up a GoFundMe for a memorial danasiwa to grant him.

In:
• Drug Cartels
• Mexico
• Cartel