Issue date: 6/4/03 Section: News in Brief

LAREDO, Texas (AP) -- Both U.S. and Mexican officials said they were investigating the fatal shooting of an illegal immigrant at the ranch of former diplomat John Hurd.

Juan Garza Mendoza, who said he accidently shot the 40-year-old migrant Sunday night while hunting, was released from Webb County Jail Tuesday on $150,000 bond. He had been charged with manslaughter on Monday.

Jesus Barrera Vasquez, of Guanajuato, Mexico, died at the scene from a single rifle shot to the torso.

Mendoza, 34, told police Vasquez was apparently crouching in low brush and that he mistook Vasquez for a wild hog.

Sheriff Juan Garza said interviews with other hunters and with the victim's companions led him to rule out anything but an accidental shooting.

"But then again, Texas criminal law says that when you recklessly discharge a firearm and it kills another person it's a manslaughter charge," Garza said.

He said the investigation was ongoing pending results of an autopsy to be conducted in San Antonio.

"The migrants said it was perfectly light, and that they believe the shooter must have been able to see them because they weren't that far away," he said. "A Mexican national has died of a gunshot wound, and someone is responsible."

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