Guadalajara -
For police chief Lucio Rosales Astorga, yesterday was business as usual in Hostotipaquillo, Jalisco, a sleepy town of about 10,000 northwest of Guadalajara, not far from the Nayarit state line.
At least it was supposed to be that way.
Rosales arose early, went to the office and then about 8:00 a.m. drove home to pick up his wife and school age child. Taking his son to school was part of his daily routine, one that he no doubt enjoyed in the quiet community. Rosales had two armed escorts with him, because that's what police chiefs have to do these days in Mexico (More attacks on Jalisco police).
As the chief pulled up outside his house and his wife walked to the car, a team of sicarios - hired gunmen - appeared from nowhere. They opened fire with AK-47s and AR-15s, combat rifles both, which undoubtedly were acquired in the United States. Rosales was killed almost instantly, as was one of the escorts. The other managed to return fire and cut down one of the assailants. The chief's wife was injured, as was a bystander, who is in grave condition today. Their child escaped harm.
Eight suspects were picked up later in the day, with a virtual arsenal of weapons, including grenades.
Yesterday the Jalisco state prosecutor, interviewed on the Milenio network, attributed the ambush to gang rivalry in the region. He said they're fighting for "control of the plaza," or domination of drug sales and other criminal enterprises in Hostotipaquillo and surrounding towns.
The prosecutor had some other interesting news as well.
In the past 10 days, his office has filed charges against 40 people involved in an array of kidnapping schemes. Neither the criminals nor the victims are high profile. The accused are ordinary Mexicans who seized other ordinary Mexicans and held them for cash ransom. At least one child was a victim.
As the video clip below shows, some of the defendants are just kids. Their job was to kidnap friends.
This is exactly the kind of business which the now extinct Mexican group known as Los Zodiaco specialized in but a few years ago. Last week, one of the convicted members of that kidnapping ring walked away from a 60 year prison sentence on technical grounds (Mexico's Supreme Court orders Florence Cassez freed). She was received in her own country as a veritable Gallic heroine, for having survived Mexico's "backward, brutal system of justice." On her arrival in Paris Cassez told the world, "The Mexican court found me innocent." C'est pas vrai, mademoiselle, c'est pas vrai. No justice for Mexicans in Florence Cassez ruling.
Feb. 1 - The Jalisco State Secretary of Public Security has announced more arrests in Tuesday's assassination of Hostotipaquillo's police chief. The seven accused range in age from 20 to 65. A large weapons cache was also seized. It included an AK-47 with 660 rounds of ammunition, two AR-15s with 180 rounds, two .12 gauge shotguns, a .38 caliber revolver, bullet proof vests and combat gear.
Feb. 4 - Jalisco has recorded at least 122 homicides since Jan. 1, 95 of which were organized crime executions. Among the victims were five police officers and a soldier. The state prosecutor says that competing regional and national drug cartels and crime gangs are "heating up the plaza."
Feb. 11 - Another Jalisco police officer executed near Manzanillo
Feb. 9 - Area police chief executed in Guadalajara Metro Zone
Feb. 1 - HRW's condemnation of Mexican drug war reveals how little it understands conflict
Jan. 23 - "Legal decisions always have practical consequences"
Jan. 20 - Narco executions continue in the heart of Guadalajara
Jan. 20 - Weapons seizures in Mexico soared under Calderón
Jan. 18 - "Fast and Furious" arms found at scene of shootout which killed Miss Sinaloa
Dec. 17 - The Second Amendment, NRA leave their mark in Mexico
Dec. 16 - El País asks, "¿Quién desarma a EE UU?" - Who will disarm the United States?
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