Mayhem in Monterrey: 16 die, including 8 bad guys -- UPDATED
2011-02-19
Posted by: badanov
For a map, click here. For a map of Nuevo Leon click here. For a map of Monterrey click here. Completely rewritten from a previous version, including updates and added information
In what is considered to be the bloodiest day thus far this year in Nuevo Leon, 16 individuals were killed in drug and gang violence in and around Monterrey, including six young men shot to death in front of a convenience store in Guadalupe.
- A running gun battle between detachments of the Mexican Army and armed suspects in two Monterrey suburbs have claimed the lives of eight suspected drug criminals.
The fighting began at about 0100 hrs in the Secretaria de Comunicaciones y Transportes colony near the corner of avenidas Eloy Cavazos and Coahuila where a Mexican Army detachment began pursuit of a convoy consisting of a Ford Explorer pick up truck, Chevrolet Silverado and a Malibu sedan which continued through the streets and ended a short distance away.
Reports say the suspects then launched a hand grenade at the detachment which detonated but did not hurt anyone. The gunfight continued at the Servicios Tecnicos y Conservacio area where five armed suspects were killed by army gunfire. An unknown number of other suspects fled in other vehicles before they could be captured.
At that site, soldiers found eight rifles including AK-47 assault rifles, one G-3 assault rifle, one .50 caliber Barrett rifle, a grenade launcher and a 40mm grenade. Hecker and Koch G-3 assault rifles are standard issue for the Mexican Army riflemen.
One of the vehicles fleeing was pursued to Juarez, Nuevo Leon on the road to Santiago, where it crashed, tipping over killing three. Four more firearms were seized in the crash aftermath.
Minutes later a Dodge Ram pickup truck was found abandoned in Guadalupe near the intersection of calles Juarez and Santa Cruz, blocking several lanes of roads.
Reports are that shootings were reports in several other areas as well,including the area around avenida Garza Sada in Monterrey, and avenidas Juarez, Eloy Cavazos and Pablo Livas in Guadalupe.
Reports suggest the firefights and pursuits may have been diversionary in nature.
- Six unidentified young men ages between 14 and 20 were shot to death Friday afternoon in front of a convenience store in the Monterrey suburb of Guadalupe.
The attack took place at about 1215 hrs near the intersection of calles Alfonso Sanchez and Mexico in the Eduardo Caballero colony.
Reports say armed suspects then took the bodies from the scene of the shooting only to deposit them at their homes later in the day.
Information released by the Nuevo Leon Agencia Estatal de Investigaciones (AEI) said the location was a known drug selling area.
- A box wrapped in colored paper and tied with a red bow in Monterrey initiated an emergency response of Mexican security forces including agents of the Nuevo Leon Agencia Estatal de Investigaciones (AEI) Friday. The box was found near the intersection of calle Diego de Montemayor and Aramberr just before unidentified children were about to open it.
Several elements of state and Mexican Federal agencies were drawn to the area, including AEI, and Mexican Army. An expert from a section of the Nuevo Leon Procuradora General Justicia de Estatal (PGJE) determined the package not to be a bomb. Police found a cleaning rag inside when the package was opened.
The incident was characterized as a prank.
- A grenade attack on a police patrol vehicle in Altamira instead wounded a female civilian Friday at noon. The victim was aboard her Chevrolet Monza near where armed suspects threw a grenade at a nearby police patrol vehicle. Señora Rosalinda Perez Martinez, 46 was taken for medical treatment.
- An unidentified man was shot to death at a bank kiosk in Monterrey. The victim was in the Bancomer BBV ATM facility near the intersection of calles Padre Mier and Mariano Escobedo where he was shot seven times. Authorities are uncertain if the murder was an execution or part of an armed robbery.
- The Secretaria de Defensa Nacional (SEDENA) released informationn about a Mexican Army unit finding an unidentified man shot to death near a fishery near Monterrey Friday.
The news release did not detail the location of the find, but did add the victim was taken to a hospital in San Nicolas de los Garza shortly before he died.