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Some El Pasoans Concerned About Violence Spill Over

Posted: 6:25 pm MDT September 9, 2009Updated: 9:25 pm MDT September 9, 2009

On Wednesday, El Paso sheriff's detectives confirmed that the Horizon City man who was abducted from his home, Sergio Saucedo, was found dead in Juarez overnight. They said the homicide is connected to the ongoing narcotic activity in the area. The crime has people asking if the violence in Juarez is spilling over to El Paso.

"The only thing I'm afraid of is that crime is coming all the way into El Paso now," said a Horizon City resident who didn't want to be identified. He said the violence in El Paso is going to get worse.

"Will it get any worse than this? Will it reach the level of violence in Juarez, I certainly don't think so. But I can't predict the future," said El Paso County Sheriff Richard Wiles.

Wiles said he recognizes the concerns in the community and even said there may be a potential for more violence but doesn't believe it will reach the level of violence we see in Juarez.

"Our belief is that the targets are people who are connected to the drug trade. We don't have reason to believe that innocent people are being targeted here," said Wiles.

As KFOX reported, 30-year-old Sergio Saucedo was abducted from his Horizon City home last week and his body was found in a canal in a Juarez neighborhood. His hands were cut off and placed on top of his chest. Wiles said the culprits are sending a message when they left the body that way, but that's still under investigation. He says the bottom line is the public shouldn't panic.

"I just don't want the public to think that the drug cartel is coming over here just targeting innocent people," said Wiles.

El Paso sheriff's detectives continue to investigate the incident as an aggravated kidnapping. FBI is now on the homicide case because the body was found in Juarez. Both agencies are working with Mexican authorities.

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