murders murders known massacre given puerto rican public media describe events occurred july mountain puerto_rico young puerto rican pro independence activists murdered ambush event sparked series political controversies end police officers found guilty murder high ranking local government officials accused planning covering incident originally declared police intervention terrorists local media quickly questioned officers surviving witness inconsistencies reluctant governor puerto_rico ordered local launch investigations asked fbi aid investigations concluded wrongdoing officers local opposing political party launched inquiries new evidence witness surfaced uncovered gross murder officers possibility local federal cover trials held total officers convicted crimes incident subsequent events controversial events puerto_rico political history frequently called worst political cover history island event puerto rican independence activists example political oppression independence movement commented massacre demonstrated reason banned world victims born december san_juan parents admired puerto rican 20th century older brother younger brother student enjoyed literature wrote stories went win second place competition held parents went europe finish doctoral studies learned speak french year returning europe enrolled superior colombia high school lower grade school officials want credit years overseas study interested social issues young age political activism started joined pro independence group high school born november old san juan parents finished high school studies went work factory married son called young age identified cause puerto_rico independence joined socialist league participated activities avid reader kinds literature especially related political processes puerto_rico latin_america wrote poems essays pen latin_america incident night july independence activists spanish undercover police officer posing fellow group member took taxi driver hostage ordered drive communication towers located original plan set fire sabotage towers protest imprisonment puerto rican nationalists convicted assassination attempt president shooting united_states capitol members congress injured state police officers alerted plan prior arrival activists ambushed shot undercover agent received minor bullet wound shooting taxi driver left relatively unharmed initial statements morning officers argued acted self defense stating ordered activists surrender time activists started shooting returned fire initially taxi driver said cab shooting started shot contradicted statement days later interview local newspaper stating car men activists undercover agent left car saw heavily armed men approaching emerged car saw men alive beaten armed men later identified policemen governor puerto_rico praised officers televised address calling heroic stating acted self defense stopped terrorist attack days later follow interview news reporter taxi driver stated shooting occurred heard passengers shout agent don shoot agent called help shouted saw heavily armed men approaching later identified police agents passengers exited car taxi driver ordered gunpoint exit vehicle extracted agent kicked taken away scene escorted saw activists directly vehicle beaten armed men investigations facing public pressure taxi driver conflicting statements governor ordered separate investigations addition ongoing standard police investigation concluded officers actions free wrongdoing despite inconsistencies stories attorney informed reporters july days incident investigation revealed massacre occurred opposing political parties mainly insisted investigations cover ups demanded special independent prosecutor assigned investigate special investigations fbi performed separate occasions confirmed conclusions officers acted self defense second investigations november general elections governor elected margin votes closest puerto_rico history party lost control state legislature main opposition party loss attributed new_york_times surrounding controversy investigations time news organizations time attributed loss stance island political status legislature quickly started new inquiries hearings incident senate presided spearheaded investigations naming assistant district attorney investigate second investigations performed legislature local press uncovered plot assassinate activists possible conclusive conspiracy cover actions interviews officer detective testified arrived scene saw police officers aiming guns activists kneeling turned eyes away heard offered immunity testimony added hours shooting officers told col commander terrorists come mountain alive testimony officer witness fatal shooting confirmed details provided granted immunity inquiries obtained similar testimony witnesses including taxi driver stated activists alive disarmed police removed scene taxi driver stated short exchange gunfire removed place nearby heard second volley gunfire asked police investigators forget second round shots statement different shots upheld people including officer jesus federal grand jury quit force shortly civilian witnesses san juan star interview subsequently legislature local press started questioning actions fbi actions investigation alleging corruption agencies conspiracy cover evidence letters sent community political leaders chairman senator asking inquiry conduct federal investigations letters accused attorney general providing aid investigations leaders opposing parties charged december meeting governor considered lifelong republican began campaigning deliver democratic_party convention votes island president nomination presidency ironically carter opponent nomination senator kennedy days president carter won nomination delegate announced lack evidence bringing investigation case end internal memorandum issued month meeting later proved investigations closed agents investigating important evidence case potentially officers including unexplained victim face fact police officers original story stating fact bursts firing accusations brought public political pressure investigating agencies led internal revisions evidence procedures investigations local federal level organizations denied cover second investigations led officials including different equivalent state attorney general accepting resigning posts span months november prosecutors relieved duties report state found failed properly investigate citing specific deficiencies investigations state attorney general oversee investigations occurred aftermath second investigations led officers indicted found guilty destruction evidence justice convicted second degree murder convicted officers longer active duty status col head incident suspended resigned suspended officer suspended officer suspended suspended officer suspended officer disability leave officer suspended officer disability leave year general elections held november lost gubernatorial seat governor opposing party rival widely accepted lost elections case public opinion rating deteriorated substantially late investigations progressed political rivals defense officers indication possible conspiracy undercover agent murdered undercover agent accompanying activists indicted granted immunity officers removed police force public pressure february acquitted kidnapping taxi driver lawyer argued acting orders government actually guilty kidnapping despite testimony presented officer testified endangered hostage life prosecution provided evidence threatened hostage gunpoint drove car car approached refused free hostage despite suggestions activists actions according officer contrary standard police procedures primary concern safety hostage active police officer fact publicly expressed resentment subsequently threatened provide evidence media individuals involved reinstated evening april months assassinated mother house sustained gunshot wounds mother slightly injured hours later group identifying volunteer organization revolution called local news agencies claiming responsibility statements swore kill policemen involved deaths fbi considered dangerous terrorist organizations united_states time given organization claimed responsibility attack navy bus puerto_rico december navy men killed people injured attack base january fighter jet planes destroyed day identified possible suspect murder case remains public justice department civil rights division chief admitted fbi acted investigations incident rejecting interviews key witnesses including taxi driver refusing offer immunity certain witnesses avoiding standard investigating tasks days stated think certainly apology justified respect way federal government handled investigation fbi division professional way fbi director similar concessions written statement stating eyewitness interviewed civil rights investigation initiated fbi conducted internal review case files concluded cover effort inside fbi desire avoid cooperative anti terrorism effort puerto rican police statements accompanied promises improve agencies avoid similar incidents future years incident admitted public radio interview error judgment premature declaration police officers time believed telling truth self defense publicly denied wrongdoing alleged cover investigations legacy conclusion final investigations heated debate incident puerto_rico groups arguing responsible planning ordering plot kill activists subsequent cover argued incident exaggerated rival politicians media maintaining conspiracy took place officers incarcerated actually innocent year july puerto rican nationalists independence activists gather atop honor defend celebrate puerto rican independence ideology usually organized family victims members nationalist groups mountain christened mountain american movie force loosely based events theories incident
Cerro Maravilla murders