I can hear the sirens and the helicopters as I write this. I didn’t know why until I came across an article in La Jornada. This particular shootout occured not too far from my home. For those of you who attended the Univerity’s book fair last year, or plan to this year, you’ll know exactly where it all took place.

Here’s my translation of the article. You can read the orginal version in Spanish here

Armed Commando Ambush Police in Veracruz

The State’s Public Security Service informed that the attack left two dead agents, among them Honorio Gutiérrez, detective for the Coatepec Police Department, and two wounded officials.

Xalapa, Ver. Francisco Mora, the undersecretary for the State’s Public Security Department, announced that an ambush occured this Tuesday. The attack by an armed commando on a police convoy left two agents dead and two more wounded.

The chase, initiated by the presumed hired assassins, began in the city of Coatepec. They caught up to the police officers across from the Museum of Transportation in Xalapa.

Honorio Gutiérrez, an inspector for the Coatepec Police Department, died in the attack. Another agent died when he was moved to the city hospital.

The armed group caught up to the two police trucks, began running into them and then started shooting.

After the attack, city authorities initiated a security operative in the surrounding areas of Los Arenales, where the ranch Guadalupe is located. It is currently surrounded by police officers.

Veracruz is included in a large-scale security operative, implemented by the federal government since the end of last year, to combat organized crime.

Museum of Transportation