Friday, May 18, 2007
Kenosha Sheriff's deputy killed by illegal alien
KENOSHA--It's been a sad couple of days for the Kenosha Sheriff's Department as one of their own, Frank Fabiano, was brutally killed at near point blank range three times by Ezeiquiel Lopez, an illegal alien with a crimial past.
The details of the shooting were:
Fabiano was shot three times, including a deadly shot to the head, during the traffic stop at 14th Place and 45th Avenue in the town of Somers. The stop began about 11:35 p.m. Wednesday.
Fabiano was shot by 11:40 p.m.
University of Wisconsin-Parkside Officer Jimmie Spino was on scene within minutes of the stop.
He came as backup after hearing that Lopez had refused to pull over.
Spino said he heard Fabiano order Lopez out of a Chevrolet Astro van, then heard heard two gunshots and saw two flashes.
Fabiano then fell to the ground. Spino returned fire as Lopez continued shooting.
The Astro van rolled into nearby trees as Lopez ran away.
Sheriff’s department officials said Fabiano was able to fire four times before he went down.
Three of those bullets hit the van.
Spino also fired several shots.
Lopez reportedly fired six shots from a Lorcin .380-caliber semi-automatic handgun.
Fabiano was pronounced dead about 12:30 a.m.
Lopez was arrested around 2:30 a.m. about one mile from the shooting scene.
Records said he drank, took drugs and bought a gun from a gang member before the shooting.
He said he did not pull over because he “thought he had been in an accident,” the complaint says.
Lopez admitted having a gun, but did not remember shooting at any officers.
Two Racine County Sheriff’s deputies guarded Lopez during the hearing. Fabiano’s wife, Amy, and sister-in-law sat in the courtroom during the proceeding.
Amy Fabiano looked at Lopez as prosecutor Robert Zapf explained Lopez’s criminal history, which includes convictions for lewd and lascivious conduct in 2001 in Utah, illegally having a gun in 2003 in Texas and drunken driving, also in 2003, in Missouri.
This is extremely sad news. It could have been prevented if we enfored our immigration laws. Lopez had a criminal history before this incident. He should have been deported twice, both in 2003.
Makes you wonder if we are serious about dealing the overwhelming problem that is immigration. This news came at a time where members of Congress have created an immigration plan that essentially gives amnesty to the more than 15 million people that are here illegally.
We are essentially going to award these people for breaking the law by illegally entering our nation. They will have to come "out of the shadows" and pay a $5,000 fine, and gain citizenship in our nation. If this isn't amnesty, I don't know what is.
I've said it in jest before that we need to build a 15-foot electric fence at our souther border and install X-ray equipment to scan below the suface at the border. But after this event, this hits home. This happened in my backyard, in the city that I grew up in. It isn't just a problem in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas anymore--it's a nationwide epidemic.
We need to pass reform that enforces current immigration laws. We need to allow local police departments to have the resources to find out if people are illegally here. We need have mechanisms--including a nationwide data base of Social Security numbers for employment verification, a national photo ID card, and harsh penalties for hiring illegal aliens--so that we can enforce immigration laws at the lowest levels.
And finally, we need to put our military at the border and give them authorization to use deadly force. We live in a time where we can't afford to let anyone into our country. How do we know that Mexican crossing the border isn't a member of al-Queda? How do we know that that Mexican is trying to come here to "find a better life?"
We don't.
Let's get serious about immigration reform. Let's shut down our border first, then enforce our laws, and then maybe we can talk about allow these people here a chance at the American dream. The United States cannot afford to give the illegal aliens amnesty without closing the border first.
What message does that send?
Labels: SE Wisconsin, Wisconsin Politics
