An illegal immigrant has been accused of killing a Florida police sergeant.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) made this revelation in a message that he released on Twitter on Friday, May 26.
DeSantis tweeted:
Sergeant Michael Kunovich was killed in the line of duty by an illegal immigrant who took advantage of our open border. Our prayers go out to the Kunovich family and the entire @SJSOPIO community during this time.
Joe Biden’s reckless immigration policies are deadly – it is no…
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) May 26, 2023
Michael Kunovich was a sergeant with the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office in Florida. He recently lost his life in the line of duty.
On May 19, Kunovich attempted to pat down a suspicious individual who was sitting outside of a closed business. But, the suspect resisted violently and attempted to flee.
A six-minute struggle, on the ground, took place between Kunovich and the suspect. During that struggle, the suspect attempted to take Kunovich's taser. The suspect was eventually placed under arrest with the help of additional officers. But, even then, while handcuffed, the suspect pulled out a pocket knife, which had to be taken from him.
After the six-minute struggle, Kunovich collapsed to the ground. Medical personnel attempted to provide lifesaving measures. But, after being rushed to a nearby hospital, Kunovich was pronounced dead.
The 52-year-old Kunovich, a 25-year veteran of the sheriff's department, leaves behind a family that includes his mother, stepfather, two sisters, one brother, and two sons.
The suspect has now been identified as 18-year-old Virjilio Aguilar Mendez.
Mendez is an illegal alien from Guatemala. Just the News reports:
Mendez is listed by law enforcement as a homeless migrant worker from Colotenango, Guatemala and documents state that he is between 5-foot-2 to 5-foot-4 and 115 to 130 pounds.
According to the arrest report, Mendez claims that he resisted so violently due to a fear of being sent back to Guatemala. Now, however, Mendez finds himself in jail, having been charged with resisting with violence and felony murder. He is currently being held without bail.
The situation is currently under investigation, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is reportedly participating in this investigation.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Enforcement and Removal Operations has filed a detainer against Mendez, which according to CBS, "is a request from ICE to state or local law enforcement agencies to notify ICE as early as possible before a removable noncitizen is released from their custody."
