20 Killed Over Weekend in Mexican Border City
- Posted on November 7, 2010 at 10:16pm by
Scott Baker
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CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico (AP) — At least 20 people were killed in drug-gang violence over the weekend in this northern Mexican border city, including seven found dead outside one house.
The seven men were believed to have been at a family party when they were gunned down Saturday night, said Arturo Sandoval, a spokesman for the attorney general’s office in Chihuahua state, where Ciudad Juarez is located. Five were found dead in a car, and the other two were shot at the entrance of the home.
There have been several such massacres in Ciudad Juarez, a city held hostage by a nearly three-year turf battle between the Juarez and Sinaloa cartels.
Few residents now venture out to bars and restaurants. And like those attacked on Saturday, others have discovered that they aren’t even safe in their own homes: Last month, gunmen stormed two neighboring houses and massacred more than a dozen young people attending a party for a 15-year-old boy.
Ciudad Juarez, across the border from El Paso, Texas, has become one of the world’s deadliest cities in the time that the two cartels have been fighting. More than 6,500 people have been killed since the start of 2008.
But the violence doesn’t stop there. In the southern city of Oaxaca, police found a human head in a gift-wrapped box left Saturday night on the side of a cliff popular for its view of the picturesque colonial center.
Reporters at the scene saw a threatening message left with the head signed, “the last letter Z,” an apparent reference to the Zetas drug gang.
The gruesome find came a week after two young men who had been involved in violent university protests and other conflicts were gunned down in the middle of the day in a public plaza.
An e-mail purportedly from the Zetas claimed responsibility for those slayings and said that the two were killed for falsely representing themselves as members of the gang.
Oaxaca state Attorney General Maria de la Luz Candelaria Chinas said the e-mail is suspected to be fake, although she said authorities had not ruled out the possibility that the Zetas sent it.
Mexican government officials describe the Zetas – former hit men for the Gulf cartel who became independent this year – as a sort of franchise with units across the country. But officials say some of those cells are copycats using the Zetas name to intimidate extortion and kidnap victims.
The Zetas have grown in power over the past decade, and experts warn their clout could grow following the death Friday night of one the gang’s major enemies, Gulf cartel leader Antonio Ezequiel Cardenas Guillen. The kingpin, known as “Tony Tormenta” or “Tony the Storm,” was killed in a shootout with marines.
Although there have been some beheadings in recent years, cartel-style violence is rare in Oaxaca, the capital of the southern state by the same name, especially compared to northern Mexico or the central Pacific coast.
_____
Associated Press writer Ixtli X. Martinez in Oaxaca, Mexico, contributed to this report.
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Comments (52)
Pawsupday
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 8:31amHas anyone noticed that BEFORE they would just kill people. NOW they are beheading people…like they do in the middle east! This that ringing any bells with anyone????
Report Post »JRAGWEED
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 7:45amIt’s against the law in Mexico for citizens to bear arms. A disarmed citizenry is subject to the whims of lawlessness and dictators. The Mexican army is partly corrupt, small, weak and greatly outnumbered or outgunned by the lawless cartels. The poor Mexicans are hostage’s, pure and simple. Solution, Mexican citizens must arm up and take your country back, until then you are screwed.
Report Post »emertz8413
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 6:28amMy family went to Cancun 7 years ago, it was beautiful. But, we were warned, even then, not to stray off the resort areas. You couldn’t pay me to go anywhere in Mexico now!!!
Report Post »EP46
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 6:03amJust a couple of thoughts:
Report Post »1. In a One World Government they want to kill off as many people as possible
2. Perhaps the legalize pot vote loss in California because the administration does not want to take away the money Mexico is making by selling drugs in the US
justice
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 5:44amIt’s like any country, their country needs to take a stand and not take it anymore. if you stand by and look nothing will ever change. what are they waiting on the u.s as usual. we need to take a stand on our border.
Report Post »Two_Kids_Dad
Posted on November 9, 2010 at 4:40pmWe need a president that will promise a full pardon of any U.S. citizen who kills a Mexican gang member, cartel member or drug mule on U. S. soil. Send an unmistakable message that their problem needs to stay on their side of the border.
And perhaps the military should fly armed drones along the full length of the southern border and take out the trash as needed.
Report Post »red penny
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 2:27amYears ago, while at Fort Bliss, we use to go over to Juarez and never had any problem. There were many good places to eat true Mexican food and any number of bars.I guess one would be insane to venture into Juarez today.Too bad things are as they are today.
Report Post »alshere
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 1:29amI have an idea, seal the border and let them kill each other off.
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 1:27amthese are not the illegal aliens your looking for ……………..
Report Post »Rowgue
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 12:09amIf they were serious about ridding themselves of the cartel problems all they’d have to do is pick up a phone and get the Columbian boys of Los Pepes under contract. They solved the Pablo Escabar situation very quickly after it became clear that the government beuracracy was impotent in getting the job done.
The real problem is that the government isn’t honestly interested in dealing with it. They are complicit in the operation. There are known cartel members holding office as congressmen. And of course they conveniently have immunity from prosecution by holding those offices. It will take an uprising by the people of Mexico if they want to rid themselves of this, just like it did in Columbia.
Report Post »pamela kay
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 11:54pmAnyone who goes to Mexico for a vacation isn’t thinking clearly. Can you imagine what this is like for Americans that live along the border? If I did live in those areas I definitely would be armed and prepared to defend my land. my home and my family. God bless our fellow Americans that have to deal with this suffering and danger.. We need to keep on this and let our president hear us speaking loud and clear. The mexicans are not the only ones crossing our borders , Where is homeland security? CLOSE THE DAMN BORDERS!
Report Post »tnturner
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 11:27pmThe mexican citizens won’t do anything. Why do you think they want to come here? The mexican gov. won’t do anything because more than likely they are in the middle of it.
Report Post »Chriztina
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 11:09pmI pray these drug cartels violence will never really cross the border. Like into Texas or Arizona.
Report Post »13thGenerationAmerican
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 10:49pm“I am Cornholio! You do not want to face the wrath of my bunghole, for I need TP!”
drattastic
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 10:41pmMilitarize our southern boarder now!
Report Post »starman70
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 10:30pmSooner or later the good, law abiding citizens of Mexico, and there are many of them, will say ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! There will be a popular uprising of just plain citizens who will take their country back. It will resemble the American revolution. They will hunt down dope dealers, cartel heads and especially corrupt politicians. Trials will be quick and justice will be swift.
It is going to happen, the question is when.
Report Post »drattastic
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 10:40pmDon’t hold your breath .
Report Post »troyvar
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 8:34amI’m afraid it will resemble the French Revolution more than American Revolution.
Report Post »unread
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 8:44amhow far can you throw a pitchfork…? it would be a poor sport against an AK… perhaps US should start dropping rifles over mexico so those folks can find some liberty…!!
Report Post »lbsm
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 10:30pmTragic…I hate to see this.
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 10:29pmJoy, the offer still stands for your paid vacation in Mexico. Perhaps you can garner hope and understanding between the gangs like Obama garnered hope and change here. Good luck. Let us know what dates are good for you so we can make reservations.
Report Post »RobertCA
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 10:38pmif Joy goes there we will see a lot of people trying to escape from mexico to the US which I can’t blame them for doing that , instead I will buy her a 1 way ticket to Afghanistan , that will fit her very well since she likes to defend them .
Report Post »RobertCA
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 10:29pmParents , do not send your kids to Mexico , there’s a lot of beautiful places here in the US .
Report Post »BoilitDown
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 10:28pmIt is worrysome that in depth investigative stories are not prominent in the media about the cartels and border violence. Many stories are not even seen in the MSM and those that are only include the basic facts, then they move on to the next item in the news.
Report Post »Am I over reacting?
starman70
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 10:40pmUnfortunately, you are. The MSM cannot solve the problems in Mexico, only the Mexicans can.
Report Post »Rob_M
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 10:27pmSoon the spring break industry will collapse, then it’s all over.
Report Post »rdk
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 10:27pmMaybe when we are done cleaning up Iraq and Afghanistan, we can tend to problems nearer to us.
Report Post »neverending
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 10:25pmJust another example of the failed administration of the bastard in chief. There isn’t one thing that is not a total mess – however – he seems to keep finding more to screw up and if he can’t do it here then he goes around the world.
Report Post »drattastic
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 10:39pmNever met a vacation he didn’t like the tax payers to finance .
Report Post »poverty.sucks
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 10:24pmRoman Catholic Church needs to speak out against violence against Spanish Catholics and illegal immigration.
Report Post »pattybbb1
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 2:04amI bet those cartel members don’t go to church. Just saying….
Report Post »WhiteFang
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 10:24pmCome to Mexico for a good time vacation!
Report Post »TruthTalker
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 10:22pmAnd this is news because? This happens on a daily basis. Nothing new.
Report Post »snowleopard3200 {mix art}
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 10:48pmThese cartels only seem to understand the usage of the application of force; so the time seems to have arrived to make them understand the second addage of ‘the fear of the application of force.’
The second one is very simple. You harm an innocent, we take out twenty of your cartel members with extreme prejudice (no trial); you take out the police or country leaders, we take out the cartel leaders with extreme prejudice (and extreme messiness as well – full pictures and such.)
Place bounties on the leaders heads of the cartels large enough for people to want to go after them, and then turn the bounty hunters loose.
http://www.artinphoenix.com/gallery/grimm
Report Post »walkwithme1966
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 11:13pmI live in Texas and years ago we use to make trips to the border on the weekends to shop and hit the clubs – put you couldn’t pay me enough to go there now. Its too bad as those were fun time.
Report Post »http://maboulette.wordpress.com
snowleopard3200 {mix art}
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 11:27pm@Walkwithme1966
Got an idea, how about the administration asks Mexico to permit some texans to head south of the border for a old fashioned ‘cartel hunt’ with no bag limit.
Report Post »Anarcho Capitalist
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 11:56pmThe only difference between government and gangsters is your opinion.
Report Post »Polwatcher
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 5:50amIf the federally placed drug smuggler danger signs located 80 miles north of the Arizona/Mexico border are not news then this is not news. Maybe we should just put up signs instead of trying to stop anarchy. How about we put up danger signs in every major city. That way we could reduce city expenses for enforcement of laws. (sarc.)
Report Post »Stuck_in_CA
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 6:30amI have friends in Mexico. They get mad about all the negative news reported in the MSM. They say all you have to do is stay away from the drug dealers to avoid the violence.
Report Post »It’s just a matter of time, me thinks.
mhurd
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 8:39amTHIS is the reason we have to militarize our border, and shut down the traffic. Mexico, get your country under control, or lose the privilege of commerce.
Report Post »untameable-kate
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 1:57pmWhy doesen’t the govt get it? CLOSE THE F-ING BORDER
Report Post »