By He was also arrested in May for attempted theft of property.
A U.S. soldier arrested in connection with the killing of a Mexican drug cartel member in El Paso, Texas, allegedly worked as a hit man, court records say.
Pfc. Michael Jackson Apodaca, 18, was one of three men arrested Monday in connection with the shooting death of the mid-level drug cartel member who also worked as an informant for the United States, according to a complaint affidavit.
Apodaca joined the Army a year ago and worked as a crew member on a Patriot missile launcher, officials at Fort Bliss in El Paso told CNN.
“He was in the top of his class,” said Dave Jackson, his grandfather. “You talk to all his sergeants. He’s a good soldier. Now, before he went in (and joined the Army), he was in, he was in with a bad crowd.”
Police identified the other suspects as Ruben Rodriguez Dorado, 30, and Christopher Andrew Duran, 17.
The three men each face one count of capital murder, El Paso police said.
The victim, Jose Daniel Gonzalez Galeana, was shot multiple times in front of his home on May 15.- CNN
If Pfc Apodaca is found guilty he is likely to face the death penalty. Since the death penalty was re-instated in the mid 1970′s, Texas has executed more murderers than any other state.
10:08 am on August 12th, 2009 1
Ever hear of the saying "you can take a boy out of the country, but you can't take the country out of a boy". This applies to everyone not just soldiers. The same scumbag, worthless way of life a soldier just left in the housing project will follow with him into the Army. Just look at the soldiers who continue to wear their clothing as if they just walked out of the ghetto. Think about why the army shaves your head and sticks you into a uniform. If you think there are different reasons, you're naive to say the least. This soldier continued to socialize with the same POS he did in high school.
Is the army nothing more than a societal-dumping-ground for derelicts?
10:31 am on August 12th, 2009 2
Recruiters have told me that they know of others that will take anyone in the Army to meet their quotas, even if they know of hidden criminal acts or gang problems. Of course, those recruiters say the never did, but they know of people that did.
5 or so years ago Camp Casey had a huge problem with gangs. Soldiers were even getting knifed right at the on post ATM. I remember Gen. Honore (then 2ID Commander) saying, "Of course we have gangs. They give these new kids clothes, alcohol, and the sense of belonging in a group. They do a better job of indoctrination than we do!"
Lemmy has it right, let criminals in the Army, and you have criminals. What a shocker.
10:59 am on August 12th, 2009 3
Nothing new here.
11:31 am on August 12th, 2009 4
At least he wasn't a right wing extremist.
2:33 pm on August 12th, 2009 5
That 10% of soldiers has always been there and probobly always will be.(the scumbag) Some will turn out to be excellant soldiers in a battle, while others will continue to be losers for the remainder of their lives.
On the other hand another group of 'Soldier, NCO, officer, of the Month" will also have its 10% that fail to meet expectations in a combat zone. Its easy to judge a person on their lifestyle and attitude, its much more difficult to tell who will stand up and do their duty when the time calls.
Otherwise I agree with you.
5:46 pm on August 12th, 2009 6
Doesn't being a Patriot crewman require a SECRET security clearance? He must not have had a significant criminal record before coming into the Army. I guess that he was never caught.
7:30 am on December 7th, 2009 7
hey thats my hommie good luck HOMMIE IM HERE FOR YOU ESE!!!
7:35 am on December 7th, 2009 8
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8:27 am on December 7th, 2009 9
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8:28 am on December 7th, 2009 10
Indeed. Those guys are REALLY tearing America apart. And they're EVERYWHERE.
9:28 am on December 7th, 2009 11
9:40 am on December 7th, 2009 12
His Grandfather said he was in with a bad crowd. That is what you call a "good citizen"?
So, according to you, a good vato kills a government informant? I feel better about "vatos" already.
11:11 am on December 7th, 2009 13
"The victim and one of the suspects, Rodriguez, were in the Juarez cartel, based across the border from El Paso, police spokesman Chris Mears told CNN. Police believe that Apodaca and Duran were not cartel members, he said."
Want to explain what he was doing there? Murdering another human being is a bit more than a traffic ticket. 'Everyone' does not murder another person.
Prisons are full of 'good citizens' who only made one mistake in life. Unfortunately it was often a huge mistake, as in the case of Mike Apodaca.
I don't 'hate the guy' so much as I feel sorry he just wasted his life along with that of the victim. He screwed up big time, vato or not.