HORMIGUEROS — 2005 · Suspicious Death
The Death of Filiberto Ojeda Ríos in an FBI Operation
Filiberto Ojeda Ríos, founder of Los Macheteros, the armed wing of Puerto Rico's independence movement, had been wanted by the FBI since 1990 over a major 1983 robbery. On 23 September 2005, the anniversary of the Grito de Lares, a symbolic day for the independence movement, FBI teams surrounded his home in Hormigueros. Shot during the exchange of fire, Ojeda Ríos died; the time of death and whether medical help could have reached him became matters of dispute. The operation caused a strong reaction on the island. The US Justice Department's Inspector General found that the use of force complied with policy but that negotiation procedures had not been followed. In 2011 the Puerto Rico Civil Rights Commission called his death an "illegal killing".
- Date
- 2005
- Place
- Puerto Rico, Hormigueros, PR
- Category
- Suspicious Death
- Case Status
- Closed
- Coordinates
- 18.1400, -67.1300 ↗
Timeline of Events
- 1990Ojeda Ríos cut off his electronic tag and became a fugitive.
- 23 September 2005The FBI surrounded his house in Hormigueros; he died in the shootout.
- 2006The Justice Department Inspector General found the use of force within policy.
- 22 September 2011The Puerto Rico Civil Rights Commission called his death an "illegal killing".
Sources
- El Nuevo Día — Una mirada al músico y revolucionario Filiberto Ojeda Ríos elnuevodia.com ↗
- Los Angeles Times — Puerto Rico arrests (1985) latimes.com ↗
- Wikipedia — Filiberto Ojeda Ríos en.wikipedia.org ↗
- El Nuevo Día
- Los Angeles Times
- Wikipedia
Source grade A: several independent sources, at least one an official record or reference work. If you spot a mistake or something missing, report it with "Suggest a correction" in the app.
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🕯️ This record was prepared with respect, in memory of those who lost their lives.