21/09/2009 / MEXICO
Most
people panicked and ran away when the gunman opened fire, but the mass rush got
worse when Cervantes tried to tackle him. I don't see his action as something
heroic because he mainly succeeded in putting his own life and that of others
in danger. In the end he didn't stop the shooter and was killed.
Video: ‘Hero’ bricklayer shot to death while tackling metro gunman
When a crazed gunman opened fire in crowded Mexico city metro station on Friday, most people bolted for the nearest exit. But not Esteban Cervantes Barrera, who single-handedly tackled the gunman - and died a hero.
Cervantes, a 56-year-old mason, was one of thousands of people on their way to work when a gunshot rang out in the Balderas metro station in central Mexico City. A man in his wagon had begun shooting indiscriminately after a policeman on patrol tried to stop him from scribbling graffiti on a wall.
The mute video surveillance footage below shows Cervantes, unarmed and unprotected, lunging at the man and attempting to disarm him several times before being shot in the head. A policeman was also killed and several other people wounded before security forces managed to restrain the killer.
The gunman, a 38-year-old unemployed man, was heard to shout "It's not against you, it's against the government!" to the crowd as he shot in the air. He told police that he committed the attack because he had a "message to send out to the city".
Cervantes has been hailed as a hero by his countrymen and buried with national honours in Mexico City's civilian pantheon.
Video surveillance footage of the shoot-out
WARNING: The content of this video may be considered disturbing
“The entire country was touched by his death”
Fredy
Martin Perez is a journalist in Chiapas
for the daily newspaper El Universal.
I find it
natural that people like Cervantes are recognized as heroes. People admire him
because he stood up against the violence that plagues Mexico, even at
the risk of his own life. The entire country was touched by his death and his
funeral and his wake were attended by hundreds of people. Both the government and
civil society recognize his bravery, and the head of Government of the Federal
District Marcelo Luis Ebrard Casaubón has promised a pension of one million pesos
for his family, who come from a poor background.
I find it
natural that people like Cervantes are recognized as heroes. People admire him
because he stood up against the violence that plagues Mexico, even at
the risk of his own life. The entire country was touched by his death and his
funeral and his wake were attended by hundreds of people. Both the government and
civil society recognize his bravery, and the head of Government of the Federal
District Marcelo Luis Ebrard Casaubón has promised a pension of one million pesos
for his family, who come from a poor background.
Violence is endemic in all of Mexico, and levels of violence have surged in recent years. Human rights groups have repeatedly demanded of President Calderon that he change tactics in regards to insecurity because so far none of the measures he has taken have worked."
“I don’t see him as a hero”
Gabriel Infante is a journalism graduate and political blogger in Mexico City.
Most
people panicked and ran away when the gunman opened fire, but the mass rush got
worse when Cervantes tried to tackle him. I don't see his action as something
heroic because he mainly succeeded in putting his own life and that of others
in danger. In the end he didn't stop the shooter and was killed. The government is honouring him as a hero mainly to comfort his family, for them to feel that he didn't die for nothing. But his family members themselves, who described him as unable to keep quiet in the face of injustice, said at his funeral that they would have preferred him to be less brave if it meant he could still be alive."
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Comments
He is the ideal citizen hero
Submitted by Adrián Cerva... on Tue, 22/09/2009 - 15:07.I created a Facebook fan page for Esteban Cervantes Barrera because to me, he represents the everyday citizen hero. He is an ideal – a citizen who still has faith in society and others. We need that kind of people in our society today more than ever. I think there are more people like him – who face down insecurity, organised crime and corruption every day - but we just never hear about them.
What saddens me is that we see many people in the video pass by Cervantes and the gunman without even trying to help. If four or five people had tackled he shooter, not just one, they could have easily disarmed him and avoided the tragic out come of the incident.
I’ve been assaulted in the metro myself, people just stand by and watch you be attacked without doing anything. I can understand, but it makes me admire the heroic quality of don Esteban’s intervention even more.
Adrián Cerva...
really he is graet
Submitted by bobpil (not verified) on Tue, 22/09/2009 - 12:17.The man who fought is really a great hero since he tryed to stop him atleast.
there are around 200 people if everyone attack the shooter. They can really put him into dustbin. But all ran off fear. If 2 more people could help him they could stop them of dying.
Every citizen of the country is a soilder for his country..!
Every human is a soilder againt In-human.
Unregistered user
Hero
Submitted by charlie (not verified) on Tue, 22/09/2009 - 11:00.Dear Gabriel Infante,
maybe it's time to stop being quiet in the face of injustice, don't you think?!
Unregistered user