A police chief from the Jalisco municipality of Poncitlán was executed by a commando team in this city Friday night.
Bernardo García Zetina was attacked in a quiet residential neighborhood in Colonia El Briseño, in Zapopan, about 7:00 p.m. Zapopan is a sprawling suburban community just beyond Guadalajara city limits. It's the scene of frequent organized crime violence. Organized crime hit claims four lives in Guadalajara metro.
As Garcia walked out of his house gunmen descended from two vehicles, approached him and immediately opened fire with AK-47s. He died instantly after being hit by multiple .9 mm rounds.
Although Garcia lived in the metro zone, he was director of police in Poncitlán, near Lake Chapala. The area is about an hour southeast of the GMZ, not far from the expat popular community of Ajijic. Poncitlán municipality includes several towns which are within 75 miles of the Michoacán state line.
The border between Michoacán and Jalisco has been particularly violent since December, as warring cartels and regional gangs struggle for control of drug sales and other criminal enterprises. Christmas week attacks left several dozen dead. Death toll in Jalisco-Michoacán violence rises to 28, including 14 police officers.
On Jan. 17 the Jalisco state prosecutor said that at least three of Mexico's most dangerous cartels are fighting for control of drug sales in the GMZ, including the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación (a/k/a Los Matazetas), the Sinaloa Cartel of Chapo Guzmán and Los Caballeros Templarios, a Michoacán based group. Press reports say that to those a fourth has now been added, La Corona.
Authorities are most concerned by the spate of attacks against small town police chiefs, which have spiked in recent weeks (All the familiar weapons used in latest assassination of Jalisco police chief). Last night's was another in a growing list of murdered cops who became victims of Mexico's drug war.
Police say the El Briseño neighborhood where García was assassinated is very dangerous, as Los Matazetas and La Corona struggle to dominate narcomenudeo in the area - the retail drug market.
According to a press source, there are "recurrent reports of heavily armed people passing through the area in vehicles with darkly tinted windows, assaults against passersby and the frequent detonation of firearms." Gang gatherings and the uninhibited use of drugs at street parties are common, say police.
Authorities have not publicly speculated as to why García was targeted for execution. There are no suspects in the case.
On Thursday the Peña Nieto administration reported that nationwide, at least 10 police officers were killed in January drug war violence. More than a dozen have already been killed this month, including nine in a single attack in Guerrero state last Tuesday, northeast of Acapulco.
Feb. 11 - Another Jalisco police officer executed near Manzanillo
Feb. 1 - HRW's condemnation of Mexican drug war reveals how little it understands conflict
Jan. 20 - Narco executions continue in the heart of Guadalajara, and near Lake Chapala
Jan. 8 - More attacks on Jalisco police; state homicides increase
Dec. 28 - Local police resign or desert posts in Jalisco, Michoacán
Dec. 24 - Christmas Eve narco violence wracks Jalisco and Michoacán states
Nov. 30 - Commando squad attacks Guadalajara suburban police unit, leaving two officers dead
Oct. 18 - Guadalajara area police commander in grave condition after organized crime hit
Sept. 6 - Six murders in 12 hours alarm Guadalajara metro and suburbs
Mexican gangs
Jan. 13 - Mexican drug cartels work with 33,000 street gangs on U.S. soil
Oct. 23 - Mexican analysts: crime gangs now replacing drug cartels will be difficult to track and fight
June 22 - Mexican drug cartels will likely morph into "super gangs," says U.S. security firm
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