SWAT entry questioned in Marine's death

TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN9-TV) - A decorated Marine's family cannot believe their loved one, who served two tours of duty overseas, is gone; never expecting him to die here at home at the hands of law enforcement.

A Pima County Sheriff's Department SWAT team shot and killed Jose Guerena eight days ago; it was executing a search warrant. Four days ago, in a news conference, a sheriff's deputy said the department makes it clear when SWAT is about to enter a home. Lt. Michael O'Connor says SWAT says it never wants to be mistaken for other people, "We had our large armored vehicle there with the markings on it. It also has lights and sirens. It was going. So we do everything we can to try to portray the image that we're law enforcement, we're not home invaders."

But, Guerena's wife, Vanessa, who hid in the closet with her youngest son while 71 rounds were fired her husband's direction, said she heard nothing. At any point did you hear them yell, ‘police" or ‘SWAT'?" KGUN9 asked. "No, no!" answered Guerena.

A neighbor who heard the shooting corroborates the wife's account, "The only sirens I heard out here were like maybe 20-30 minutes into the entire ordeal," said David Watson.

Watson is very familiar with gunfire and stressful situations; he's a Vietnam combat veteran, "I want to make this as clear as possible: you only heard the announcements after you heard the gunfire?" asked KGUN9 reporter Joel Waldman. Watson quickly answered, "Yes!"

We are not talking about bad cops - It is leadership, discipline and training issues that killed Jose Guerena.

I am disturbed and upset about a young hero Marine possibly killed by “friendly fire” under questionable circumstances by Pima County SWAT. A 26 year-old former Marine Jose Guerena is dead, was it righteous or criminal? Lets check the current info available from Pima County Sheriff’s spokesman, and media quotes:

Jose Guerena arrives home from working 12 hour a shift at mining job, showers and goes to sleep. The man has no criminal record other than a couple of traffic tickets.

Two hours later Pima SWAT arrives with sirens and lights on all vehicles at Guerena home to serve warrant. (Wife and locals say no lights or sirens observed) Lights and sirens on serving a warrant, LOL?

Wife & son see unidentified man pointing gun in window, runs toward bedroom to wake Jose fearing home invasion.

Jose wakes, instructs wife to hide with son in closet, with AR-15 moves toward front door.

Guerena home door breeched. SWAT claims after knocking for 15 seconds and announcing. Wife and locals say no knock, no ID announced.

SWAT claims fired upon by Guerena upon entry and returned fire, 71 rounds. SWAT recants initial statements. Jose’s weapon was found on safe with round in chamber. First man in stack has accidential discharge (AD) that hits door frame, and he falls back, whole stack opens fire on Guerena. You can clearly see from the videos of the house that most of the 71 shots hit walls and doorframe. County Corn says 60 hits on Guerena, I would like to see second opinion. As said previously would you want to be the pointman in the door, if you’ve got 4 or 5 quick triggers behind you that’ll spray and pray? SWAT lucky Guerena demonstrated more fire discipline than they were capable of demonstrating

SWAT made entry into two other homes to check for possible injuries and damage from rounds that penetrated after exiting from the Guerena home.

Wife talks with 911 operator for more than five minutes pleading for help while husband bleeds out and SWAT hangs around outside trying to figure out what happened and what to do next. SWAT pull wife off phone and out door, kid still in closet.

Wife claims Jose was still alive. SWAT said he was dead hitting floor. 1 hour and 15 minutes to “clear” house before SWAT allows an ambulance crew work scene.

Wife not served with warrant, warrant and files sealed after the fact.

Post entry/shooting investigation being conducted Pima County Sheriff’s Office. Why not let AZ State Police investigate with all conflicting statements.

This needs to stay at top of stack. Righteous or wrongly all the facts need to be out on the table .

He said "IT was going." It's clear he's talking about he lights and siren, what else could he have meant?

His statement:

"We had our large armored vehicle there with the markings on it. It also has lights and sirens. It was going.

The first two its refer to the armored vehicle. I think the 3rd one does as well. If he meant lights and siren, I'd think he would have said "They were going".

IMO, he used weasel language because a) he does not know whether or not the L&S were going, or b) he knows they were not.

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