American girl, 7, killed during Mexican cartel operation, mother blames police helicopter: report

According to Fox News, 7-year-old Aranza Aidelany Pardo, a dual citizen, died on October 29 in the border city of Matamoros, Mexico. As reported by the Associated Press, the incident occurred during an operation to arrest Axel Alfredo Cárdenas Rodríguez, an alleged member of the Gulf Cartel. The child's mother, Claudia Pardo García, told the AP that a Tamaulipas state police helicopter pursued their vehicle and opened fire, striking her daughter in the head and wounding her in the leg. Carlos Arturo Pancardo, the Tamaulipas Public Security Secretary, stated that Mexican authorities are investigating three officers who were aboard the helicopter. State prosecutor Jesús Govea confirmed that investigators are reviewing ballistic and video evidence to determine who fired the fatal shot. The victim's family stated they have been in contact with FBI representatives and U.S. consular officials.

