Arlington immigration lawyer killed in hit-and-run while visiting family in Mexico
.jpeg "Julio Paredes, 50, began practicing immigration law in Arlington after graduating with a law degree from the University of North Texas in 2018. He was killed on July 24 in his hometown of Durango, Mexico after he was hit by a vehicle.")
A North Texas immigration lawyer from Durango, Mexico was killed in a hit-and-run while he was visiting his hometown, according to Star-Telegram media partner, WFAA-TV.
Julio Paredes, 50, died after being run over on July 24 while attending a fair, the Feria Nacional Durango, El Sol de Durango reported.
He died in a hospital on Saturday, according to WFAA.
Paredes was an immigration attorney in Arlington, where he lived with his wife and five children, El Sol reported. He graduated with an accounting degree from the University of Texas at Arlington, according to WFAA. He went on to start his own tax business before earning a degree in law at the University of North Texas.
A Durango native, Paredes immigrated to the United States to pursue the “American dream,” but would travel to Mexico every year to visit his family, according to El Sol’s report.
Paredes was known for helping several of his clients and his fame grew as an immigration lawyer, El Sol wrote.
“He made friends, spent hours volunteering, and continued to help his community in any way he could,” his daughter, Salma Paredes said in a Facebook post. “With his businesses, his legal cases, his family here in Texas, his family in Mexico, he always put himself last.”
Salma goes on in the post to say she appreciated when her father would take time to visit his hometown.
“How could we have known that this would be where he would take his last breath?,” Salma said in the Facebook post.
According to video posted by Posta Durango, Paredes was involved in an altercation with two men before being run over by a white SUV.
The driver of the vehicle, Jahaziel Adonay M. R., was arrested in connection with Paredes’ death, Posta Durango reported.
Authorities told Posta Durango that the suspect vehicle attempted to leave Durango, but police issued a warrant and took him into custody.
Paredes’ death is being investigated as a homicide, according to Posta Durango.
His wife, Zaida Paredes, also took to Facebook Saturday to provide an update on the family.
“It pains me deeply to have lost my life partner, my unconditional support. The absence of his physical presence is a burden that weighs on us day to day,” Zaida said in the post. “We’re trying to find a way to move on, to honor his memory, living our lives with the love and joy he taught us. Despite the suffering, I trust that, with the support of God and you, we will be able to overcome this very hard test.”
This story was originally published July 31, 2024 at 9:22 PM.
