George Alan Kelly, the Arizona rancher accused of fatally shooting a migrant on his property, expressed relief after prosecutors dropped the charges against him. Kelly, who became a symbol of the border crisis, maintains his innocence and claims he only fired warning shots to deter trespassers.
Kelly, 75, faced charges in the death of Gabriel Cuen-Buitimea, a Mexican national found dead on his ranch in January 2023. Despite his arrest and a trial, a jury failed to reach a verdict, leading to the decision not to pursue a new trial by prosecutors.
Speaking to NewsNation in his first interview since the charges were dropped, Kelly expressed mixed emotions. “I don’t feel that I was treated fairly in the investigation,” he said. “I think I was arrested without cause, without probable cause.”
Although grateful for the support received, Kelly admitted lingering concerns about the future. “That cloud’s still over my head,” he said. “It’s a long road, and we’re not out of danger yet, but we’re not giving up. I’m not going to let them beat me down.”
Kelly voiced worries about the border crisis affecting his ranch’s safety. “I’ve lived in a place like this all my life,” he said. “But I know that it’s a definite risk.”
Prosecutors alleged that Kelly recklessly fired his weapon at a group of migrants, including Cuen-Buitimea, who were fleeing from border patrol agents. Kelly maintained he fired warning shots to scare off the group and never intended harm.
During the trial, discrepancies emerged in Kelly’s statements to authorities, leading to questions about the prosecution’s case. Kelly’s lawyer, Brenna Larkin, asserted that law enforcement misconstrued his statements and disregarded evidence supporting his innocence.
Kelly remains resolute in his innocence and has decided to retain legal representation in case of a retrial. The dropped charges provide some relief for Kelly, who faced the possibility of a lengthy prison sentence if convicted.