TUCSON, AZ – A Tucson family is grieving following the tragic murder of Nicholas Douglas Quets, who was killed on his way to the beach in Sonora, Mexico. The incident occurred Friday along the Caborca-Altar highway, where Quets was targeted in a direct attack by armed assailants.
According to the Sonora Attorney General’s Office, a vehicle carrying armed individuals approached Quets and opened fire. Paramedics were dispatched to the scene, but Quets succumbed to his injuries before they could provide assistance.
The family is demanding justice and accountability, as no arrests have been made yet. Authorities in Sonora have initiated a special operation to apprehend the perpetrators. Nicholas’s father, Warren Quets, has shared his frustrations, hoping for more involvement and communication from U.S. officials, especially given his son’s military service and the family’s long history of serving the nation.
Warren highlighted the need for the U.S. government’s involvement in the investigation, emphasizing that the incident, which occurred just 30 miles from the border, deserves attention from American law enforcement. He described Mexico as an important partner, yet underscored the necessity of American cooperation to ensure justice for this cross-border crime.
Nicholas’s life was steeped in military tradition, having been born in Panama while his father was stationed there. He spent four years serving in the Marine Corps and pursued further education at Pima Community College, later becoming a certified welder. At the time of his death, he was employed with Pima County working on water reclamation projects.
Remembered as the “life of the party,” Nicholas’s absence leaves a significant void in his family. Phil Sweet, Nicholas’s brother-in-law, expressed the profound impact Nicholas had, particularly on his children, and denounced those responsible for cutting his life short. The family attributes the attack to cartel activity based on information provided to them.
They don’t wish for his death to become politicized but are concerned about the recurring violence against Americans in the region, with a similar incident involving two elderly women from Arizona reported earlier this year. Warren Quets urges for enhanced efforts on both sides of the border to curb the violence threatening tourists, reflecting on his son’s love for Mexico’s beaches and his untimely demise during a recreational visit.