Man holds gun on suspected illegal immigrant

A Green Valley man pulled a gun on a suspected illegal immigrant last week when the man entered his garage and asked for water, according to a Pima County Sheriff’s report.

The resident told the 9-1-1 dispatcher that at about 5 p.m. Thursday a Hispanic man in a T-shirt and blue baseball cap “barged in to” his garage and began asking for water in Spanish, the report said.

The house, off of Camino Del Sol in the 1600 block of Retorno de Manana, in Desert Hills V, borders undeveloped desert.

The man said he grabbed his gun and the suspected illegal immigrant left, according to the report.

Sheriff’s deputies found the man nearby and turned him over to the Border Patrol.

READER COMMENTS:

Joshua Smith wrote on Nov 10, 2009 12:56 AM:

" It's sad to see how selfish Americans have become. Yeah, maybe a stranger in my property might make me jump in surprise but I would never deny a glass of water or something to eat to someone who obviously needs it enough to walk into my property. I hope our economy never gets bad enough that we have to beg anyone for a fresh drink of water. We might just get arrested for doing so also. "

Mrs. Holister wrote on Nov 10, 2009 4:45 AM:

" As a retired Senior, that would be a frightening occurrence if any man barged into my garage and confronted me asking for something. If I didn't know any Spanish, it would be even worse. I would feel much safer having and knowing how to use a firearm. Not specifically to use it, but having the confidence that I could protect myself if need be. "

scv wrote on Nov 10, 2009 7:42 AM:

" I can understand that the man was scared. However, the illegal was even more scared - terrified! Most of these people coming accross are harmless and desperate. (Yes some are criminals. However; we have U.S. criminals living among us here, too.) We are having an unseasonably warm Fall. This guy probably planned to cross now because he thought it would be cooler - however it's not. He had to be desperately thirsty to even approach this man,. I have lived here all my 50+years and have seen many illlegals. I do not approve of illegal border crossers. However, I was raised to give drink to the thirsty and food to the hungry. I have called the border patrol many times to pick up persons that can no longer go on because they are physically exhausted. I have called them to let them know illegals are passing through, and I have called them because of obnoxious or agressive actiions of illegals. The man with the gun is no hero - just a scared, over-reactive, jerk. Mrs. Holister - keep your doors locked and your garage closed and you won't have anything to worry about. Like I told my son when he was about 5, there are human beings just like us, not aliens from another planet. "

Murray Bolesta wrote on Nov 10, 2009 8:05 AM:

" Give him water you fool "

Ian Cruikshank wrote on Nov 10, 2009 8:18 AM:

" Joshua- way to jump to the defense of the criminal rather than the homeowner who felt threatened enough to draw a gun to defend himself and his property. You have no idea what sort of interaction occurred, and violent crime against the people legitimately living near the border at the hands of illegals is a reality we have to deal with whether you like it or not. "

Laura M wrote on Nov 10, 2009 9:03 AM:

" I agree with you, Joshua, it is really sad that fear seems to dominate the minds of so many people.Sure,a stranger would create a feeling if surprise,but have a little empathy and give the poor soul a drink of water...he is probably dying and too tired to even think about harming you!

Just remember the golden rule: how would YOU like to be treated if you walked in his shoes. "

Joy Leffler wrote on Nov 10, 2009 9:24 AM:

" Yes. This sounds like a jarring experience and that is called LIFE. We are faced with choices each and every day. We can choose to live in fear or we can access the abundance of human kindness and compassion that lives within us, feel the fear and still do the RIGHT THING. The man wanted WATER. WATER. Are we so paralysed by fear in this country that we fail to take action when one of US needs help? Need WATER. Time to examine ourselves before we are the one asking for WATER! "

Dan wrote on Nov 10, 2009 9:51 AM:

" There are valid arguments for both sides of the issue. Bottom line is, give the guy some water after first calling 911. And, if you feel safer keeping your firearm at hand, then that's what you should do. To those defending the illegal entrant: You have no way of knowing the guy's intent. It is ludicrous to simply trust that he will treat you the way you want to be treated. That's how innocent trusting people end up as a crime statistic. Don't be a fool. "

Ron wrote on Nov 10, 2009 11:39 AM:

" I understand he got frighten, and felt the need to call law enforcement because of suspected illegal immigrant. However, hes asking for a glass of water? if we cant have the decency to provide that to anyone who is in need then we are truely in a sad sad country. I truely hope we all don't lose our humanity! and I hope the sherrif who picked him up was humain enough to give him some water! I don't agree with them crossing the boarder illegally, and i REALLY dont agree with denying any human being water when they ask for it. Even if you send them back to mexico, they will still be greatful for that glass of water you gave them! i think people need keep that in mind next time somthing like this comes up. "

Barbara wrote on Nov 10, 2009 11:49 AM:

" You just denied Jesus a glass of water, how does it feel?? "

Ray Bay wrote on Nov 10, 2009 2:00 PM:

" You never know what is going to happen when some nut or starving person or person needing water barges into your house...

Your first obligation is to the safety of your family and yourself.

This stranger was unknown and unidentified... he could have been crazed on drugs or alcohol.

That home owner did the right thing... used a mild threat, protected his home and family, then got the authorities to do their jobs.

What way did he have of knowing what a rag tag person speaking a foreign language was up to... What way did he have of knowing what weapon that individual may have been carrying... a knife, a throttle wire, chemicals, muscle...

Your first obligation is to home and family. Just about anybody knows how to ask for water by knockin on the door... without barging in... doesn't matter whether it was his garage, or back yard, or kitchen. "

Sandy wrote on Nov 10, 2009 3:04 PM:

" According to my map Retorno de Manana does NOT border undeveloped desert! Get the facts right!! "

C. Gordon wrote on Nov 10, 2009 6:30 PM:

" After reading these entries, it is no wonder there are so many of them walking amongst us. "

Judy wrote on Nov 10, 2009 7:23 PM:

" This is yet another glaring example of an illegal exploiting how blatantly reckless we remain...8 years after 9-11 and our borders are still porous! I suppose a cataclysmic event will bring about some clarity to our empathy. "

Bill A. wrote on Nov 11, 2009 6:38 AM:

" I would have pointed him to the garden hose at gun point and called the law. I wouldn't let one of those TB infected rats drink out of one of my glasses or even get near me. "

bubba wrote on Nov 11, 2009 9:31 AM:

" We need to arrest every illegal and make them join our military for 2 years and then make them citizens or go to jail for 2 years at hard labor!! "

Horace wrote on Nov 11, 2009 9:43 AM:

" I agree with those who would err on the precautionary side. None of you armchair quarterbacks out there have a right to judge in hindsight what a person would do when confronted with such a situation. You have no idea what would have happened if the illegal alien had stayed. Perhaps a glass of water would have been offered if the IA had not run off. And such actions never take place in a vacuum. Who hasn't heard of criminal aliens crossing our border or people murdered while performing simple acts of kindness? The man with the gun made a snap judgment based upon his perceptions and experiences. It's easy for all of you to judge in hindsight, sitting there behind your computers and all. Fools. "

ratbstard wrote on Nov 11, 2009 10:25 AM:

" Better Safe than Sorry. Since when is reporting a lawbreaker to an enforcement agency a deplorable act? i would suggest the bleeding hearts here put their money where their mouth is and and adopt an IA into THEIR HOME, better yet a whole IA family. I give to charities of MY choice and resent being forced to be charitable to IAs. "

Matt wrote on Nov 11, 2009 11:23 AM:

" I am sure there was an outside hose he could have drank from if he was that thirsty. "

misterbill wrote on Nov 11, 2009 11:46 AM:

" SCV

"However, the illegal was even more scared - terrified! "

You don't know that--in some cases thye returrn and rob and hurt the homeowner.

"The man with the gun is no hero - just a scared, over-reactive, jerk."

So , a person who is fearful is a jerk--nuf said about you!

"Mrs. Holister - keep your doors locked and your garage closed and you won't have anything to worry about."

Other than living as a prisoner- in your own home , in your own country--you have nothing to fear.

"Like I told my son when he was about 5, there are human beings just like us, not aliens from another planet. "

It will be ironic if your son turns out to be a victim of these "human beings". After all, isn't ir "human beings" who kill, rob and murder?? I have yet to be attacked by an ET. Thanks for convincing your 5 year old that he shoud fear ET aliens rather than "Human" aliens. "

George wrote on Nov 12, 2009 9:40 AM:

" It seems to me our responses to situations such as these reveal the depths of our character. When frightened, we tend to revert to patterns learned early and deeply embedded.

I would have provided the man with water, or, so I say. My actual response might have been different. "