A man walking over a border bridge that connects southeast Texas and northeast Mexico died suddenly Wednesday evening after law enforcement responded to an incident onlookers described as a suicide.
“Shortly before 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020 at Pharr International Bridge, a man of unknown nationality collapsed on the Mexican side of the bridge and later died,” a U.S. Customs and Border Protection official shared with the Washington Examiner Thursday.
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Witness and media reports indicate a 36-year-old Mexican man had walked over the bridge to the United States port of entry and asked to make an asylum claim, though CBP would not confirm it. When the man, identified in reports as Jesus Garcia Serna of Mexico, was not allowed to apply, he turned and began walking back over the bridge to Mexico. At some point in his walk, he used a knife on his person to slit his throat.
Video footage of the incident shows what appear to be Customs and Border Protection officers in blue uniforms approaching the man.
“He committed suicide,” a Mexican security official said. The man was a few feet away from the international dividing line on the Mexican side of the bridge, according to the official.
“Sensitive images,” read a social media post accompanying video of Serna wielding a knife. “The man who killed himself on the #Reynosa #Pharr international bridge cut his neck almost at the end of the Mexican side. He walked to the fence sheltered by US officials, who reacted to prevent him from approaching. He died a few meters from the dividing line.”
“Further questions regarding the death investigation are directed to Government of Mexico authorities. U.S. Customs and Border Protection expresses its deepest sympathies at this tragic loss of life,” the official said.
