Update on the Violence in Mexico Share This /

• ABASOLO: At least 18 people died in a shootout between rival gangs the Zetas and the Gulf cartel in the town of Abasolo in Tamaulipas state Monday morning.
• ACAPULCO: Three government offices were set on fire in the resort city of Acapulco Monday night by unknown assailants, damaging documents and computer equipment. The offices belong to the health department, the interior department and a federal government health insurance program. They are all housed in the same building and no employees were in the offices at the time of the fire. A motive has not yet been determined.
• CIUDAD JUÁREZ : Julian Leyzaola, a former lieutenant colonel, was named public safety secretary by the mayor of Ciudad Juárez, Hector Murguia, Thursday. Leyzaola formerly worked as the police chief in Tijuana for a year before becoming the city’s public safety secretary in 2008, where he was widely applauded for his fight against drug traffickers and corrupt members of Tijuana’s police force, but also criticized over allegations of brutality against police officers suspected of corruption (read our blog about the allegations). He most recently worked as Baja California’s state deputy public safety secretary, and has been replaced in that post by Jorge Eduardo Montero Álvarez, a retired member of the military.
• CIUDAD JUÁREZ: Ten people linked to the Barrio Azteca gang were indicted Wednesday in the March 2010 killings of three people linked to the U.S. consulate in Ciudad Juárez. Those killed include a consular employee, her husband, and the husband of a Mexican employee of the consulate. The motive for the killings is unclear. Authorities have seven of the ten people indicted in custody and are searching for the other three.
• CIUDAD JUÁREZ: The mayor of Ciudad Juárez, Hector Murguia declared over the weekend that the violent city was “winning the war” on the drug cartels, saying, “This is a fight. This is a war. We are winning the war.” He also denied that the city was among the world’s most dangerous, saying, “This is not one of the most dangerous cities in the world. This is not Iran. This is not Iraq.” More than 3,000 people were killed in Ciudad Juárez last year.
• PRÁXEDIS G. GUERRERO: Marisol Valles, the police chief of Práxedis G. Guerrero was fired on Monday when she didn’t report to work, and on Tuesday it was discovered she was seeking asylum in the United States near El Paso, Texas. The 20-year-old had volunteered for the post when no one else wanted it and had been widely lauded for her bravery. Her predecessor was beheaded by drug gangs.
• SAN LUIS POTOSI: Mexican federal police detained Mario Jimenez, alias “El Mayito” and 16 other suspected gang members Wednesday because of alleged ties to the February 15 killing of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent Jaime Zapata, bringing the number of people taken into the custody over the killing to more than 30. Police believe Jimenez manages the payroll for the Zetas’ hitmen, as well as purchasing real estate and equipment for the criminal group in San Luis Potosi.
• MONTERREY: During a confrontation between criminal groups and the military in Monterrey early Thursday morning, three criminals were killed, El Universal reported.

This post was written by CIP Intern Erin Shea