Organized crime hit claims four lives in Guadalajara metro

Executions attributed to narco violence

Guadalajara -
A brutal early morning attack blocks from this city's popular Plaza del Sol left four men dead today.

An unknown number of gunmen arrived at a private residence about 5 a.m. and killed the occupants execution style, firing at least 18 shots. The house is in the Ciudad del Sol neighborhood, in Zapopán, a prosperous community just beyond Guadalajara's core. The area of today's multiple homicides is minutes southwest of the American Quarter and Colonia Centro, the city's commercial heart. Ciudad del Sol is home to Plaza del Sol, one of the largest and best known shopping malls in Guadalajara, and purportedly the first mall ever built in Latin America. Plaza del Sol is close to the city's renowned Expo Center, as well as the Guadalajara World Trade Center.

The victims of this morning's shooting have not yet been officially identified. They were said to be between 35 and 40. All were killed with high caliber rounds. Their bodies remained on the scene while crime scene investigators completed their work. El Informador reports that one of the victims may be Orbeli Gómez Chávez, a political figure and former adviser to the state government of Michoacán. His Twitter account, which describes Gómez Chávez as a C.P.A., shows no activity since Dec. 22.

Multiple cars were parked at the residence, with license plates from Jalisco, Michoacán and Colima. Michoacán is frequently the site of bloody organized crime attacks.

Although no suspects have been publicly identified, a Mexican news service reports the case is one of narco violence. Today's murders in a city often referred to as the cultural heart of Mexico have been the subject of local, state and national news attention.

Jan. 6 - The four victims have been identified. They do NOT include the man mentioned yesterday by El Informador. But one was the brother of a high ranking member of the violent Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación - better known as Los Matazetas (the "Zeta killers").

Jan. 2, 2013 - Mexico's 100 day domestic security plan? Well, there may be slight delays . . .

Oct. 11 - Jalisco homicides remain unabated
Sept. 6 - Six murders in 12 hours alarm Guadalajara metro and suburbs; security sweeps underway
Aug. 27 - Mexico, "deadliest country in the world"
Aug. 26 - More narco blockades in Guadalajara, by Los Matazetas

Sinaloa state news

In the Pacific coast state of Sinaloa, the bodies of six execution victims were found today in the cities of Culiacán and Mazatlán. Extreme narco violence is common in the area, where criminals operate with complete impunity according to this Dec. 27 report.

May 10, 2012 - "Naive" Canadian gangsters pay heavily doing business with Mexican drug cartels
Jan. 16, 2012 - Canadian murdered on Pacific coast - but lingering questions and mystery remain
Nov. 26, 2011 - Sinaloa governor gets family out of Mexico
Nov. 23, 2011 - New terror strikes Sinaloa, as bodies of 20 kidnapping victims are found burned, shot
Nov. 8, 2011 - Mayor of Pacific coast resort survives assassination attempt
Nov. 5, 2011 - Eight executed during volleyball game by gunmen carrying AK-47s, AR-15s