HOUSTON GIRL ALLEGEDLY KILLED BY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS TO HAVE FUNERAL HOURS BEFORE CNN PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE
Source: https://amp.cnn.com/
Jocelyn Nungaray, the 12-year-old girl murdered in Houston, will be laid to rest Thursday afternoon, coinciding with the CNN Presidential Debate where immigration is a key issue.
Key Highlight:
-The suspects, Johan Jose Martinez-Rangel and Franklin Jose Peña Ramos, both Venezuelan nationals who entered the US illegally near El Paso, face capital murder charges with a $10 million bail each. Nungaray was found strangled, and her death has sparked political debate, with former President Trump blaming Biden’s immigration policies.
-They were subsequently released with a notice to appear in court at a later date. An attorney for Peña Ramos chose not to comment, while there was no immediate response from Martinez-Rangel’s attorney to a request for comment on Wednesday.
-Ahead of the CNN Presidential Debate, Donald Trump criticized President Biden’s immigration policies, claiming that the suspects involved in recent crimes would not have been in the country if he were still president, despite similar incidents occurring during his administration.
-Trump referenced cases like those of Laken Riley and Rachel Morin, both allegedly killed by individuals who entered the US illegally. In response, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas expressed condolences to the victims’ families and emphasized the need to hold the criminals accountable under the law.
-Republicans and right-wing media have highlighted the case involving two Venezuelan nationals as a critique of President Biden’s immigration policies. They argue that stricter enforcement, as advocated by former President Trump, could have prevented the tragedy, with GOP Governor Greg Abbott stating that enforcement of immigration laws would have saved the girl’s life.
-Jocelyn’s body was discovered along West Rankin Road in north Houston on the early morning of June 17. According to Lt. Stephen Hope of the Houston Police Department, surveillance footage showed the suspects together at a restaurant the previous evening.
-They were later seen meeting and conversing with Jocelyn, after which all three walked to a convenience store. Shortly afterward, they went to a bridge where Jocelyn was fatally attacked. The suspects then returned to their shared residence after the incident.
-On June 20, Houston police arrested the suspects at an apartment complex without incident, with Lt. Stephen Hope acknowledging the community’s assistance in the investigation. Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg stated at a news conference that current charges against the suspects do not allow for the death penalty, noting ongoing forensic analysis.
-Ogg emphasized that the decision to pursue a death sentence involves a committee considering evidence and the wishes of the victim’s family, including Jocelyn Nungaray’s mother, Alexis Nungaray, who described the period since Jocelyn’s death as incredibly difficult.
-The Victim’s family, Alexis Nungaray urged for justice for her daughter, emphasizing Jocelyn’s special nature and the need for accountability in the case.
Image Source: https://amp.cnn.com/
