Signs held at an April 2013 protest over the death of Jose Antonio Elena Rodriguez.
The parents of 16-year-old Jose Antonio Elena Rodrigues have waited six years for this day, the day when the Border Patrol agent charged with murdering their son goes to trial in a U.S. federal court.
Today begins jury selection in the trial of Border Patrol agent Lonnie Swartz, accused of the October 2012 shooting of the 16-year-old Mexican national.
On the night of Oct. 10, 2012, a flurry of 20 to 30 gunshots rang out from the U.S. side of the fence into Nogales, Mexico.
Rodriguez died from 10 shots to the back and the head. Swartz and other agents say they were being assaulted by rocks coming from the other side of a 25-foot fence on top of a 25-foot cliff. Bystanders say 16-year-old Rodriguez was walking away and not involved in rock-throwing.
After six years of legal maneuvering, jury selection starts today in federal court. In an ACLU video, the teen's mother said she wants justice for her son.
"I'm waiting for justice. I want justice because they killed a boy, they killed a human being."
Since 2010, more than 50 people have died as the result of contact with U.S. Border Patrol agents. This is the first time in U.S. history that a Border Patrol agent has been charged with murder in a cross-border shooting.
Swartz' trial is expected to take several weeks.
A previous version of this story incorrectly characterized Swartz' employment status. He is still employed by Border Patrol.
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