US embassy cable - 05TEGUCIGALPA1580

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEGUCIGALPA 001580 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DS/IP/WHA-M.FLYNN, DS/ITA/K.HALL, CA/OCS/ACS, WHA/CEN, 
STATE FOR INL/LP, WHA/PPC, AND WHA/CEN, WHA/PDA 
POST FOR DEA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KSAC, ASEC, CASC, KCRM, PREL, PGOV, KPAO, HO 
SUBJECT: ATTEMPTED ROBBERY AND MURDER OF DEA AGENT 
 
 1. Summary. On July 27, 2005, at approximately 1100 hours 
local time, DEA Agent Timothy Markey, vacationing in 
Honduras, was shot and killed while visiting the Suyapa 
Cathedral in Tegucigalpa. Two individuals now in custody 
appear to be responsible for the shooting/death of Agent 
Markey. Local authorities believe these two individuals 
belong to a gang which is affiliated with gang 18. End 
Summary. 
 
2. On Friday morning, Agent Markey, assigned to EPIC in El 
Paso, Texas, was in Tegucigalpa on vacation and took a taxi 
to the Suyapa Cathedral located on the outskirts of town. He 
had just exited a taxi when he walked up to a refreshment 
stand and was grabbed from behind by Erlan Fabricio Colindres 
Ramirez and Manuel De Jesus Romero, both minors, who told him 
to give them his money. Agent Markey resisted and Romero shot 
him in the leg above the knee cap with a 9mm semi-automatic 
pistol. The two suspects fled the scene on foot while Agent 
Markey got in a cab and was taken to the hospital. All 
reports indicate that the bullet hit the main artery in the 
leg and Agent Markey bled to death. 
 
3. RSO was contacted by the local guard force at 1215 hours 
after hearing a news report on the radio. RSO contacted DEA 
and the Consular Section to verify the report. Consul General 
went to the hospital and confirmed that in-fact Agent Markey 
was in the hospital and he had bled to death. At this time, 
it appears that he died in the taxi on the way to the 
hospital from blood loss. Agent Markey was pronounced dead by 
the attending physician shortly after arriving at the 
hospital. 
 
4. Police officials immediately began to investigate with the 
Embassy officials offering any assistance they might require. 
All Embassy officials started working with their respective 
GOH contacts to prepare for DEA officials who arrived later 
Friday evening. RSO had been in contact with the FBI 
Emergency Response Team (ERT) stationed in Miami, was sending 
a four man evidence collection team to Honduras to assist 
local officials. The team arrived Saturday, July 30, at 1400 
hours local time and was picked up by RSO. While enroute to a 
meeting, RSO was informed that two suspects had been placed 
in custody for the shooting and were taken to a police 
station. RSO and ERT diverted to the police station to assist 
with evidence collection. The team took a DNA sample of both 
individuals and performed a powder residue test to determine 
if either individual had fired a weapon in the last four 
days. The powder residue test came back positive for Romero. 
The weapon recovered, a Smith and Wesson, Model 910, 9mm 
serial number VYK3941, was found near the residence of 
Colindres. RSO has contacted Alcohol, Tabacco and Firearms 
(AFT) who are performing a trace on the weapon. 
 
5. RSO and ERT, after finishing evidence collection at the 
police station, proceeded to the morgue where Agent Markey 
body was being stored. No autopsy had been performed at this 
point, local authorities were waiting for the team to observe 
the procedure. This was done in the event that any evidence 
required for a separate US case could be collected in 
accordance with US law. The autopsy was completed with all 
evidence being documented by the ERT team. 
 
 
6. On Sunday, July 31, RSO and the Consular Section assisted 
ERT in having the remains released from local officials. The 
remains were transported to the ERT plane and placed on board 
for repatriation to the US. Cooperation with local officials 
was excellent. 
 
7. In closing, it should be mentioned that the crime scene in 
Honduras is going from bad to worse. Gang activity has become 
an increasing problem which is a major concern. Since January 
1 of this year, 39 police officers have been murdered in 
Honduras. The majority have been killed by gang members. 
Additionally, 46 US Citizens have been murdered in Honduras 
in the past 10 years including 10 in the last 10 months. RSO 
will continue to monitor this ever-worsening situation. 
 
 
 
Tuebner