A First-person Narrative from Father of Slain Guatemalan Minor

Carlos Alvarado

The incident in which a Guatemalan minor was shot in the Chiquibul has gone viral, pushed by the highest officials in Guatemala and fueled by the Guatemalan press. At his press conference on Monday, PM Barrow accepted that the issue was emotive and sensational, and that Guatemala had been first out the gate. But he did not accept that the version being pushed by that country was in any way factual. There is no mention in the stories carried, that the B.D.F. came under fire first, and only fired back as they sought cover. There is no mention that seven civilian rangers from the FCD were on patrol with the B.D.F., and all insist that the patrol came under fire from Guatemalans. Still, what’s done is done. Tonight we bring you a firsthand account of the incident as told by Carlos Alvarado, the father of Julio Alvarado Ruano, killed when B.D.F. returned fire. The interview was recorded by Prensa Libre, a Guatemalan newspaper renowned for its militancy, if not its accuracy. You’ll notice the gaping holes in Alvarado’s story, and we repeat, the editing was done by Prensa Libre, and not by us.

Carlos Alvarado, Injured in Chiquibul Shooting

“On Wednesday at 6:15 in the evening I was coming from work along with my sons my…two sons.  Julio Rene Alvarado Ruano and Carlos Alberto Alvarado Ruano.  We were going on this road and when we were in the road — but I was walking as normal with my sons all I did was to try to leave.  When I turn around to go…I told him to follow me.  I thought he was alive because I wanted to get him away from the gunfire.  Because the gunfire was going on intensely.  I was attacked with three automatic weapons.   And then I turned and noticed that my son was not following me. And I went back and I touched his back then I realized he was dead.  In that very moment I got shot in my leg, then I thought that I just need to leave my son here and get out of the fire.  I did all that was possible with strength of God.  The fire was still going on.  At the moment the gunfire stopped I just kept walking, thinking of my sons.  I came out from the area and approached some neighbors who helped me.”