U.S. sailor goes out for a Christmas cup of tea, loses his life on Tampico street

The Associated Press reports this morning that a U.S. tugboat captain from Bainbridge Island in Washington state has died after being attacked in Tampico, Mexico last week.

Patrick Warga, 46, died in a San Diego hospital where he was flown after the assault, according to AP.

Tampico is in extreme southern Tamaulipas state, on the border with Veracruz state. As I've reported in multiple posts over the past week, 39 people, including three other U.S. citizens, have died in drug cartel violence there since December 23. See posts below.

This case appears to be one of ordinary street crime. Warga was in Tampico on business for his employer. Shipmates told press sources that he attended a Christmas Eve service in the popular tourist port-of-call, but then returned immediately to his hotel room, fearful of conditions in the city.

On Christmas day, Warga went out briefly to get a cup of tea. He was attacked and robbed on the street, and has died from his injuries.

A 20 year old suspect has been arrested in connection with the case. Warga is survived by a wife and three children.