Rudy Lazo beaten to death in Mexico while delivering donations

A 79-year-old California man with a big heart was brutally beaten to death while delivering donations to impoverished families in Tijuana, Mexico, his family said.

Rudy Lazo was beaten to death during an apparent robbery in mid-April, not long after the US state department warned Americans against traveling to Mexico because of an uptick in kidnappings and homicides in areas including Tijuana, his heartbroken son and daughter told NBC4 on Saturday.

“He was always a very generous person, helped anyone out,” said his son, Juan Carlos Lazo, told the outlet.

Rudy would often make the 3-hour trip from his home in San Bernadino to Tijuana to deliver food, clothing, toys and other necessities to those in need, his family said.

After emigrating to the US from El Salvador in the 1980s, Rudy settled down with his family and worked as a truck driver, but was always looking for ways to help out those in need.

When Rudy was suddenly unreachable by phone on April 18, his family became concerned about him.

The next day, Mexican authorities notified the family that they had discovered his body.

Juan Carlos traveled 125 miles from San Bernadino to Tijuana to identify his father’s body. He said his father had been brutally beaten to death, and that he believes he was killed during a robbery.

“He didn’t deserve it. Actually no, no human being deserves this,” Juan Carlos said.

Rudy’s personal items, including his truck, were never found. Mexican authorities have made no arrests, his family said.

His daughter, Claudia Hernandez, recalled her father often telling his children that he felt safe while delivering donations in Tijuana.

“It is very dangerous over there. So dangerous and he probably thought he wasn’t going to have problems because he is a senior citizen,” she said.

Hernandez shared heartfelt videos of her father giving out donations, noting, “Just to see him in the videos is beautiful.”

Rudy was so dedicated to helping those in Tijuana that he even had plans to help build a community center there, his family said. His body will be transported back to El Salvador to be buried with his loved ones.

His death comes as the US has issued broad warnings to Americans against traveling to Mexico, including Baja California.

“Violent crime – such as homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery – is widespread and common in Mexico,” the State Department warned in February.

“The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in many areas of Mexico, as travel by U.S. government employees to certain areas is prohibited or restricted. In many states, local emergency services are limited outside the state capital or major cities.”