MEXICO: One woman killed and at least five others are injured when suspected drug hitmen open fire in a packed square in Monterrey

Record ID: 303545

  • Title: MEXICO: One woman killed and at least five others are injured when suspected drug hitmen open fire in a packed square in Monterrey
  • Date: 8th October 2010
  • Summary: MONTERREY, NUEVO LEON, MEXICO (OCTOBER 06, 2010) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (REUTERS) (NIGHT SCENES) FORENSIC MEDICAL TECHNICIANS IN FRONT OF PLAZA NEXT TO AMBULANCE VARIOUS OF POLICE INVESTIGATORS BEHIND CRIME SCENE TAPE BULLET CASING ON THE FLOOR POLICE SEARCHING BODY BODY OF WOMAN ON THE GROUND VARIOUS OF PARAMEDICS AT SCENE PEOPLE GETTING INTO AMBULANCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) DIRECTOR OF STATE INVESTIGATIONS AGENCY, ADRIAN DE LA GARZA, SAYING: "From Morelos and Juarez, suddenly some men wanted to - that's what we know until now - kill an officer who worked as a guard in the state, in one of the state prisons, ending in gunfire. We have until now, five people - two men including the guard and three women - injured. Also a 21 year-old woman named Lucila Quintanilla Ocanas, lost her life." FORENSIC SCIENTISTS REMOVE COVERED BODY FROM CORDONED OFF AREA POLICEMEN WITH RIFLES GUARDING AREA FORENSIC SCIENTISTS PLACING BODY INTO VEHICLE RESIDENTS LOOKING ON FORENSIC VAN LEAVING AMBULANCES / DRIVERS
  • Embargoed: 23rd October 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Mexico
  • Country: Mexico
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement
  • Reuters ID: LVAECM0IRO89WFQ4CBOL3EXO6E6F
  • Story Text: A civilian was killed and at least five people - two men and three women - were injured after suspected drug hitmen opened fire in a packed main square in the middle of the northern city Monterrey on (Wednesday 06).
    Eyewitnesses said armed assailants arrived in an SUV at around 19:00 local time (0000 GMT) and descended from the vehicle with the intention to kill a prison guard who was at the square, according to authorities.
    The dead civilian was identified by her relatives as 21-year-old Lucila Quintanilla Ocanas, who was caught in the crossfire while shopping The shootout broke out at peak hour causing traffic jams and instilling terror among dozens of residents who were waiting to take the bus home.
    Five people were left lying wounded on the pavement and street.
    "From Morelos and Juarez (avenues), suddenly some men wanted to - that's what we know until now - kill an officer who worked as a guard in the state, in one of the state prisons, ending in gunfire. We have until now, five people - two men including the guard and three women - injured. Also a 21 year-old woman named Lucila Quintanilla Ocanas, lost her life," said the director of state investigations agency, Adrian de la Garza.
    Security forces found spent 9 millimetre calibre bullet shells lying on the pavement.
    The area was cordoned off while legal experts and forensic scientists worked at the crime scene.
    Authorities are looking for the gunmen who are still at large.
    Monterrey, which has close U.S. business ties, had been an oasis of calm but has been sucked into Mexico's drug war since the start of this year.
    The government blames a split between the powerful Gulf cartel and its former armed wing, the Zetas, for much of the violence, which also has surged in neighboring Tamaulipas since the start of the year.
    More than 29,000 people have died in drug violence since President Felipe Calderon launched his army-led offensive on drug cartels in late 2006.
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