“Let’s Rid the World of Immigrants”

Shawna Forde will die at Arizona State Prison, by lethal injection if the state has its way. Described as a sociopathic woman without a soul, Shawna received a death sentence after she carried out the murders of a man and his 9-year-old daughter in her plot to rid the world of immigrants.

Working as a beautician in Tucson in 2009, Shawna Forde wanted so much more. Not more physical possessions, but more power, more control, more respect, and she wanted it from the wrong crowd of people.

She also hated illegal immigrants and felt as though they were parasites to the United States. Shawna wanted immigrants out of the country, often telling her mother they should all “go back home." Despite her own criminal behavior, Shawna also pointed out how coming to America without papers was "against the law."

Shawna Joined a Hate Group

Shawna’s hate for illegal immigrants led her to join a group called The MinuteMen Organization. Group members rallied together to discuss the issue of illegal immigrants coming to America from Mexico. She thought the group was perfect, yet her views were far too over-the-top for the group. Shawna soon left the MinuteMen and formed her own hate group, The Minuteman American Defense. As founder and President of the group, she could spawn the hate she thought illegal immigrants deserved without judgment.

Jason Bush and Albert Gaxiola. Jason hated immigrants, as did Albert. Even better, Albert sold drugs in the area and had big-name drug connections. Shawna conjured up a plan to rob drug dealers of money and valuables since she did not think they would go to the police. The proceeds from the robberies would go toward the group's mission. Albert agreed to help connect them to drug dealers turned victims. He would twice benefit since he knew his profits would skyrocket with the competition out of the picture.

Raul "Junior" Flores was the perfect target, Albert confessed to the group. Albert kept large amounts of cash and drugs at his home where he lived with his wife and 9-year-old daughter, Albert and Raul were good friends at one time.

After meeting with Raul, Shawna and Jason felt he was the perfect victim.

Robbery and Murder

On May 30, 2009, at 1:00 a.m. Raul Flores answered the door to what he thought were border patrol officials searching for illegal immigrants. Instead, it was Forde and her group.

Seeing Albert, Raul felt comfortable as he opened the door. The group immediately ambushed him, shooting Raul several times as they entered the home. Raul's wife Gina heard the chaos and ran into the kitchen where she witnessed her husband lying dead on the ground. Before she could react, Jason shot her.

She didn't die. She heard her daughter, Bresenia, screaming from her room. She prayed the group would spare her daughter's life.

Bresenia begged him not to kill her. Gina heard a gunshot. Bresenia fell quiet. She heard a second gunshot. Jason had shot Bresenia in the face at point-blank range.

Jason walked out of the room and scoured the house looking for the drugs and money Albert promised Raul kept. They found nothing more than a few dollars in cash and a couple of pieces of jewelry. The group left just as quickly as they had entered, leaving death and devastation behind.

Gina Survived; Dialed 9-1-1

Gina mustered the strength to reach the house phone and dialed 9-1-1. As she spoke to the operator, Jason and Shawna returned to the home to retrieve a gun they had left behind.

Gina reacted quickly, grabbing her husband's gun from the counter and shooting at them, twice striking Jason. Both fled from the home, although left enough evidence behind to lead Gina to suspect Albert was involved in the home invasion.

She was right.

Back at the Forde home, Shawna had already begun planning her next home invasion, unconcerned with the two lives she had just taken. Her plans to rid the world of all immigrants fell through quickly after police arrested her, Jason, and Albert.

All three were convicted of murder and attempted murder. Albert was sentenced to life without parole. Jason Bush was sentenced to death. Shawna Forde was sentenced to the death penalty plus 65 years in prison.

My Thoughts

Life is boring when you refuse to open your mind and associate with anyone aside from ‘your kind.’ When you befriend people from all racial and ethnic groups, you open your world to so many fascinating cultures and experiences.

It is beyond my comprehension how anyone could hate someone based on their race or ethnicity alone, or how that hate can push someone to the point of murder. Forde and Bush got what they deserved, and as a death penatly supporter, I hope both pay for their crimes with a date in the death chamber.