Take action: Call Hidalgo County Sheriff and District Attorney to Demand #JusticeForJorge

Family members express grief, anger over the indignities Jorge suffered in his final months of life

Jorge, wife Johana, newborn son Jason, and mother Catalina

A week after filing a wrongful death lawsuit against deputies and officials of Hidalgo County Sheriff's Department on behalf of the family, the law firm representing Jorge Gonzalez's family today provided statements from Jorge's family members in the form of a press release.

“Not only did they take my son away, they took my life away,” said Catalina Zuniga Herrera, Jorge's mother. “My son was my everything, my world. I carried him, I planned growing old with my son, and they just took him away from me.”

“Only a mother can understand the pain of losing a son, but what most killed me was seeing my son not being able to move again, not being able to carry his son, and leaving this world with the simple wish of being able to eat again. Every day that I would see him in the hospital bed, not being able to move, would kill me.”

“What most killed me was seeing my son not being able to move again, not being able to carry his son.”

“My husband and I were parents of a one-year-old baby – my husband didn’t deserve to be treated in such an unfair way,” said Johana Zuniga, Jorge's wife. “We only ask for justice because of the pain that my family and I feel will not be taken away.

“My husband was a hardworking man, and his son was his world for him. My son will not be able to know his dad, nor be able to call someone “dad.” They took my companion – the love of my life. I only ask for justice in the name of my husband which is what he deserves and what he asked for before he passed.”

“I don’t have the words to explain how much it hurts to know all the pain my brother had to go through,” said Katia Zuniga, Jorge’s sister. “He suffered a lot and had to die in a horrible way. He was my only brother and he’s gone. There’s no day that passes without thinking about him, that I can’t see him or hear his voice anymore and it hurts a lot.”

“I just ask for fair justice because he was a human being, not an animal. He didn’t deserve to suffer the way he did and no one does. He was only 23 and had a 1-year-old child – he will never play with his son again.”

The Hidalgo County Sheriff and District Attorney refuse to accept accountability for Jorge's murder

On the evening of April 12th, 2020, LUPE member Jorge Gonzalez Zuniga was at his friend's house when the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s deputies showed up. They arrested him for violating emergency stay at home orders and broke his neck, leaving him paralyzed from the neck down. His broken neck is clearly shown in the booking photo, where Jorge is sitting down as two officers held his head in place for the mugshot. He was then denied medical attention for over 21 hours. Later that day, Jorge slipped into a coma and suffered serious complications that led to his death. He leaves behind his wife and one-year-old child.

Texas Rangers investigated and sent their findings to the Hidalgo County District Attorney’s office.

Just recently, a Hidalgo County grand jury declined to bring charges against the three deputies who left Jorge Gonzalez Zuniga paralyzed.

The Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Department and District Attorney Rodriguez refuse to accept accountability for the murder of Jorge Gonzalez Zuniga.

The family of Jorge demands Justice. We will not stop until the family receives the justice they deserve!

Take action: Make 3 Phone Calls for #JusticeForJorge

The full press release is provided below.

Family of Jorge Zuniga Provide Public Statements, Request Privacy at this Time

Media Outlets and Reporters Should Direct All Inquiries to Thomas J. Henry Law’s Executive Vice-President of Public Relations, Ruben G. Herrera

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS (September 17, 2020) – Thomas J. Henry has filed suit on behalf of the Zuniga family for the tragic and senseless death of Jorge Alejandro Gonzalez Zuniga. For further details about the allegations, please refer to the attached lawsuit.

Given the painful circumstances of Mr. Zuniga’s death, Thomas J. Henry respectfully asks that all media outlets and reporters respect the privacy of the Zuniga family at this time. The family is currently mourning the loss of Mr. Zuniga and is attempting to deal with the aftermath his death has had on their family.

Any media outlets or reporters seeking further information about the family’s lawsuit against the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s deputies involved in Mr. Zuniga’s death may direct their questions to Thomas J. Henry Law’s Executive Vice-President of Public Relations, Ruben G. Herrera. Mr. Herrera’s contact information is included below.

Ruben G. Herrera

Phone: (361) 834-4160

E-mail: rherrera@tjhlaw.com

Public Statements from Jorge Zuniga’s Family Members

Statement from Catalina Zuniga Herrera, Jorge Zuniga’s mother:

“Not only did they take my son away, they took my life away. My son was my everything, my world. I carried him, I planned growing old with my son, and they just took him away from me.

Only a mother can understand the pain of losing a son, but what most killed me was seeing my son not being able to move again, not being able to carry his son, and leaving this world with the simple wish of being able to eat again. Every day that I would see him in the hospital bed, not being able to move, would kill me.”

Statement from Johana Zuniga, Jorge Zuniga’s wife:

“My husband and I were parents of a one-year-old baby – my husband didn’t deserve to be treated in such an unfair way. We only ask for justice because of the pain that my family and I feel will not be taken away.

My husband was a hardworking man, and his son was his world for him. My son will not be able to know his dad, nor be able to call someone “dad.” They took my companion – the love of my life. I only ask for justice in the name of my husband which is what he deserves and what he asked for before he passed.”

Statement from Katia Zuniga, Jorge Zuniga’s sister:

“I don’t have the words to explain how much it hurts to know all the pain my brother had to go through. He suffered a lot and had to die in a horrible way. He was my only brother and he’s gone. There’s no day that passes without thinking about him, that I can’t see him or hear his voice anymore and it hurts a lot.

I just ask for fair justice because he was a human being, not an animal. He didn’t deserve to suffer the way he did and no one does. He was only 23 and had a 1-year-old child – he will never play with his son again.”