Officials Warn of Cartel After Texas Rancher Killed in Explosion—
A 74-year-old Brownsville rancher was tragically killed in what officials are speculating was a cartel-related attack.
Antonio Céspedes Saldierna was a rancher who worked regularly around Brownsville, Texas. On Friday, February 21, 2025, Saldierna was driving his Ford pickup on his ranch when he fell into a surprise attack.
AN ATTACK TOO CLOSE TO HOMEAs Saldierna traveled through his ranch, he ran over an explosive device officials are speculating was placed by the Cartel. As Saldierna drove over the device, it detonated, causing a huge explosion.
Saldierna and a passenger, Horacio Lopez Pena, were both killed by the explosion. Pena’s wife, Ninfa Griselda Ortega, was also in the vehicle at the time of the explosion and survived.
