US Marine Corps veteran shot dead by cartel militants in Mexico: 'He was a protector'

Gunmen apparently working for a drug cartel killed an American in Mexico, and one of the suspected killers was a deserter from the Honduran presidential guard, authorities in northern Mexico said.

Arizona resident Nicholas Quets was shot and killed on October 18 near a gas station between the towns of Altar and Caborca ​​in the border state of Sonora. Local media reported that Quets was heading to the beach resort of Puerto Peñasco, also known as Rocky Point, at the time of the attack. Local media reported that his vehicle may have passed a cartel road checkpoint shortly before the murder.

Quets' family told CBS affiliate KOLD-TV that he was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran.

“The unique thing about him is that he was a protector and wouldn't even hurt a flea that would harm someone else,” his father, Doug, told the station. “Because of this quality, he had a very large circle of friends.”

Prosecutors in the northern state of Sonora said late Tuesday the Honduran suspect and a companion were “neutralized” in the town of Altar after they opened fire on security forces. Neutralized is a term used in Mexican law enforcement to mean “killed.”

The prosecutor's office released a video of the suspects on social media.

Prosecutors said the Honduran suspect – who like the others was not identified by his full name – had an outstanding arrest warrant for desertion from the Honduran presidential honor guard. Drug cartels in Mexico often recruit former military personnel from Central and South America. He is in custody pending investigation into weapons and drug offenses.

Prosecutors said they also arrested two other suspects in Quets' killing. One was identified as “Delta,” a gang working for the Chapitos, a faction of the Sinaloa drug cartel.

Quets' family told KOLD-TV that they are heartbroken after losing their 31-year-old son named Nick.

“If I had to do something, I'd say, 'Well, I'll just wait until Nick gets here,'” said his father, Doug. “Knowing that Nick won’t be here to do that is a gap that will be difficult for us to overcome.”

The family told KOLD-TV that Quets was stationed in countries around the world, including Australia and countries in Southeast Asia.

The family has set up a GoFundMe for a memorial scholarship in his honor.