U.S. requests extradition of Gomez-Garcia - Articles - CAIR - Colorado Alliance for Immigration Reform

The United States has formally requested the extradition of accused Denver cop-killer Raul Gomez-Garcia.

The U.S. Embassy in Mexico City filed the request with the Mexican government Thursday, said Denver District Attorney's Office spokeswoman Lynn Kimbrough.

Gov. Bill Owens sent a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on July 19 asking her help with the extradition of Gomez-Garcia, who is being held in a Mexican jail.

If Rice agrees with the governor's request, it will be forwarded to President Bush who then decides whether to forward it to the Department of Justice. Gomez-Garcia faces charges of second-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder in Denver. He faces up to 96 years in prison if convicted.

Detectives Donald Young and John Bishop were shot while working off-duty security at a baptism party on May 8. Bishop, who was wearing a bullet-proof vest, was wounded but survived. Young died at the hospital.

Gomez-Garcia fled to Los Angeles the day after the shooting. He was arrested June 4 in the Mexican city of Culiacan, about 140 miles north of Mazatlan, after a massive four-week manhunt.

Morrissey has charged Gomez-Garcia with second-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder.

The district attorney has said the extradition could be delayed or denied if he were to charge Gomez-Garcia with first- degree murder, which can be punishable by the death penalty or life imprisonment. In 2001, the Mexican Supreme Court blocked extradition of suspects facing life in prison without the possibility of parole.