I don’t want to make light of this man’s death without knowing the story...for all we know, he could be someone who has lived in the US as a citizen, followed the process, works hard and just happened to be in the wrong place and ended up being used as an example etc.
But, if you have that kind of background, your chances of having your head sawed off by drug gangs is pretty low. It could happen, but is pretty darned unlikely.
I will agree on the hit-men being illegal, though. Tactics coming to a country near us soon...oops, I mean here NOW.