José Luis Rincón López Obituary – The family of a Mexican immigrant who sought medical assistance at a hospital in Johnston County is seeking answers regarding his tragic death at the hands of a sheriff’s deputy.
According to various Mexican news outlets, the man who was killed has been identified as José Luis Rincón López, a 24-year-old individual. The deputy involved in the incident has been identified as Jonathan Lee, a 32-year-old officer who has been employed by the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office since 2018, as stated by spokesperson Maj. Jeff Caldwell.
The Sheriff’s Office initially reported that Rincón López had attempted to take the deputy’s firearm outside the UNC Health Johnston hospital in Clayton, leading to the fatal shooting.
However, Rincón López’s family has expressed doubts about this account, as reported by Mexican publications Crónica de Xalapa, Golpe Político, and La Opinion de Poza Rica.
These publications are based in Veracruz, the region where Rincón López’s family claims he originated from. In a video posted on Crónica de Xalapa’s Instagram account, José Rincón López’s sister, Lizbeth Rincón López, questioned the circumstances surrounding her brother’s death, stating, “Our question is ‘why?’” According to Rincón López’s sister and mother, Griselda López Martinez, he left for work at around 3 a.m. on Monday but fell ill and stopped at a gas station to call for an ambulance, as reported by La Opinion.
After informing his father that he was in the emergency room, José Rincón López was never heard from again, his family claimed.
López Martinez stated that Rincón López’s uncle, who is a migrant worker in North Carolina, was informed of his nephew’s death at approximately 1:30 p.m. Rincón López had been in the United States for less than a year and a half.
His family is now urging Veracruz and Mexican authorities to investigate his death and assist in repatriating his body, according to Crónica de Xalapa.
The Mexican Consulate in Raleigh has confirmed that Rincón López is a Mexican national and has offered support and guidance to facilitate the repatriation process.
