This show is in memorial to Special Agent Jaime Zapata, and the ultimate sacrifice he made for America. His partner, Victor Avila will be our guest today, June 11, 2020 on Wise Guy Talks, in partnership with Your Southlake.
Victor Avila/ Claudia/ Jaime Zapata 2/15/2011 /Brian
Terry 12/15/2010/ Enrique “Kiki” Camarena 2/9/1985
Parents? What was the best lesson they taught you. What was growing up in ELP like? Heroes? What did you want to be? Tell us what roll religion plays in your life. On a more serious note, I hear you make a mean carne assada. What is your secret?
What work did you and Jaime Zapata do for the government? Job description. You only knew Jaime for a short time. What was it about him that you connected with. How was his Spanish?
Why is it so important for you to tell the story we are about to hear?
Tell me about the assignment you were given by the mission you were given on Feb 14, 2011. * Were you aware of Security Notice 2011-3, Dated Jan 18, 2011 To All Embassy Employees from RSO Timothy Haley. Subject: Warning Travel H/W 57,posted by the Ambassador. *How did you react when your were assigned the mission for Feb 15 and what was your gut feeling? * How did you feel about being assigned a rookie you had never met? Tell us how you prepared for the mission. * Who gave you a threat assessment/intel brief? Were you aware of any so called chatter? * What was your mission and could it not have been achieved through a diplomatic pouch? Why weren’t you given escort? What was the typical escort cadre, for example, moving a family back to the states? Help us visualize this process of
secure movement in high threat environments. Were there any similarities to the 2015 movie, Sicario? With multiple SUV’s securing transport? Were you briefed on the status of your transportation equipment? Comm gear status? GPS tracking? Weapons, pistols/long guns? Were you issued ballistic vests? Tell us about the vehicle. How much training did you and Jaime get in driving a 6 tonne, armored vehicle? Tell us about Feb 15. What time did you get up. Last words to your wife. Up to the 911 call. (( USE AK47 and 7.62 TO DEMO GUN IN WINDOW)) Did you and Jaime have a ballistic vest on? Tell me about your injuries and how you are today.
Tell us about the door locking system and the emergency GPS tracker alert. Tell us about the 8 men and the one called Tweetie Bird. Did they know you were diplomats and why did they continue the assault? Immediately after the attack and the 911 call, you are alone with Jaime for 40 minutes in the suburban. What thoughts were going through your head? Did you talk to Jaime? Conversations with HQ? Do you remember being taken from the SUV to the Helicopter? Could you see Jaime and tell us about the 40 minute airtransport? Were people talking to you? Were you in pain? How did Claudia find out? There were some reports of “chatter” going on, on the cartel side. Explain.
Let’s talk about the attack. Was it a random act of violence, such as a car jacking? Why was 100 hundreds rounds fired into the car, essentially destroying the vehicle is it was to be a car jacking. Was it a coordinated attack? How did they know you would be there. Could the details of your mission have been linked to the Zetas Cartel and could the leak have come from someone near your Embassy Operation? Do you ever wonder about switching drivers on your way back to Mexico City? While in the hospital you talk about Feeling like a Foreigner in the land of your heritage and very alone. Tell us more about those moments.
April 23, 2020, The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) released investigative findings that shed new light on a 2011 tragedy involving two Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents who were ambushed along a dangerous stretch of highway in Mexico by the Los Zetas drug cartel. The report acknowledged you and Agent Zapata were...
