01/29/12 VIOLENCE TIJUANA MASSACRE IN TIJUANA BROTHER OF "R-12" KILLED SHOOT OUT(BALACERA) IN ROSARITO BEACH WITH ALL UPDATES 5 ARRESTED ARE NOT THE SHOOTERS

This is initial information reported by AFN and El Mex: Last night at a party in colonia Tres de Octubre in Tijuana gunmen arriving in at least three vehicles opened fire on the party group killing at least five people according to El Mex, one of those included a child who later died at the General Hospital. According to AFN, three are dead and there are different versions of this story including the version that more bodies were found at that scene - it is unclear if these people were wounded or killed.


One of those killed was Daniel Alberto Cabrera Bengochea, the brother of Omar Bengochea aka "R-12", the former Tijuana Municipal Police Officer and chief bodyguard of El Aquiles of the Sinaloa cartel. As you recall, "R-12" was arrested just a few weeks back in Tijuana.


El Mex reports that authorities had descriptions of the vehicles and caught up with them in colonia Aztlan in Rosarito Beach at about midnight which they state was one hour after the executions in Tijuana. It was at this point the assassins stopped their vehicles in front of a house and opened fire on the PEP agents, currently we do not know how many units of PEP were at the scene. There was a gun battle with the PEP agents repelling the attack. Five men were arrested, weapons and dope were seized. AFN reports that five firearms were seized including two AK-47's. El Mex reports that an AR-15 was part of the arsenal seized. Initial reports are saying one of the assassins was injured, so far no reports of PEP agents being injured or killed. No reports yet on if any of the gunmen escaped. El Mex notes that it is suspected these gunmen were related to the executions in colonia Tres de Octubre and is waiting for the official confirmation of the story.


UPDATE 12:37pm: AFN is updating their story that five people were killed, including the minor and the brother of "R-12". From a statement of a witness the commando group was made up of three armed men who broke in to the party house, carrying rifles and dressed in military style black uniforms. The gunmen separated the men, women and children, making the women lay on the floor and then started shooting. AFN also notes the operation to track the commando group included the Municipals of Tijuana and Rosarito Beach, the PEP and the Mexican Army. AFN does not elaborate in this update if there were actually three vehicles used by the gunmen. It has not been reported how seriously the person was injured during the shoot out at this moment. AFN notes the area the gun battle took place in Rosarito Beach is known for the activities of El Aquiles and the Sinaloa cartel.


UPDATE@ 10:30pm: AFN is reporting that according to their sources the attack took place last night at about 8:00PM and that the assassins were heavily armed. this report does not indicate the time of the following shoot out in Rosarito Beach. There has been a brief press release from the Military who took the five men into their custody. According to the Military Report, at the scene of the shoot out in Rosarito Beach, five rifles, six magazines, 416 rounds of ammo, three vehicles, 200 grams of glass, 10 grams of mota and one kilo of precursor chemicals were seized. BTW, included in this Military Report are the results of some of their operations, including a clandestine airfield destroyed southeast of Ensenada, and another in Mexicali:


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At this moment there has been no other official report from the authorities, expect that tomorrow or Tuesday.

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UPDATE/EDIT 01/30 @ 9:37pm: AFN updates this story: The party in colonia Tres de Octubre was held at the house of the Mother of the Bengochea-Cabrera brothers, it was a family reunion. The 13 year old Ulises ( Daniel ) Beltran Castrejon who was killed was born in San Ysidro, California. There is a reference to the San Diego Union Tribune on Ulises's school in San Ysidro and reactions from teachers, however at this moment the Tribune is calling the shootout in Rosarito Beach an "incident", not a shoot out.


There had been a prior threat against "R-12's" brother and if you recall after the "R-12" arrest,it was reported by AFN that he had only just returned to Tijuana, apparently thinking that things had cooled down. This update does not mention who or what group made the initial threat, although most people are assuming it came from elements within the CAF. Certainly there are still many bad feelings left over from the days of El Teo-Sanchez Arellano war; authorities have not commented on this aspect of the case or if they are anticipating a renewal of hostilities between the two cartel groups or if this was a one time revenge act, and if that was the case, revenge for who or what?


AFN notes the women were most likely saved from the firing squad because they were locked in a separate room. It has been reported previously that the assassins made the women move to another room and lay on the floor - it is unclear if the women themselves locked the door.


After the shoot out in Rosarito Beach some of the attackers were found in adjacent houses, this report doesn't say how many houses were involved and it is unclear if this was a cluster of a cell group in different houses or if the attackers had forced their way into these homes to hide. The weapons seized were a 9mm sub machine gun, one AK-47 with 100 rounds, One AK-47 with 40 rounds and one AR-15.


Those arrested are:

Hugo Sanchez Franciso Lucero - 54 years old
Juan Valentin Vazquez Serrano - 31 years old
Juan Carlos Perez Santos - 37 years old
Juan Carlos Perez Hernandez - 28 years old
Javier Ramirez de la Cruz - 33 years old


According to AFN what they call down here a "zipizape" or a confrontation took place between the Mexican Army and the PEP, where the Military took the prisoners and the weapons which were seized away from the PEP.


AFN places the time of the attack at the Tres de Octubre house at 8:30PM. At the scene of the crime 34 spent shells were located. AFN details how many shots each victim received, please refer to article:


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UPDATE/edit 01/31 @ 11/30am:


- Frontera is reporting this morning that Sr. and Sra. Corella Diaz spent the scariest fifteen minutes of their life when their home was caught in the crossfire of the shootout between the assassins and the authorities in colonia Aztlan of Rosarito Beach on Saturday night.


Their home is located just behind the house where the shoot out took place. The couple stated they were in one room when suddenly there were many lights outside and the sound of what they thought at first were firecrackers. It was shortly after they realized these were not firecrackers, bullets were flying through their home.


Terrified, they took shelter and tried to hide in a hallway to escape the gunfire. They hid for fifteen minutes frozen with fear with the deafening sound of gun blasts around them. After some time, elements of the Army entered their home - which they say they were not opposed to - looking for more suspects. When it was over the couple left and went to a friends house to stay the night.


Returning to their home the next morning, they were aghast at the damage caused by the gun fight. Windows were blown out, the front and side of the house were damaged by the gunfire, and inside the appliances had been destroyed by the gunfire. This was the home that took them thirteen years to build.


What they want to know now is who exactly is going to pay for the damages - the Mexican Army or the PEP? Now that's what I call an "incident" in Rosarito Beach. (sarcasm intended)

Danan casa de matrimonio por balacera en Rosarito

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There have been more executions in Tijuana since Saturday, I'll update those in the next blog.

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UPDATE/EDIT 01/31 @3:30pm:

- A twist to this story, El Mex has reported that the five men arrested after the shoot out in Rosarito Beach are not linked to slaughter in colonia Tres de Octubre. This is official and from the PGJE: the weapons seized were not linked to the shootings at the house in colonia Tres de Octubre. The five men are being held at the La Mesa prison for possession of weapons and drugs. Which means of course, the assassins are still out there. Noted that Frontera reports Police filters are being put up through the city.


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Sorry, wrong story. That link was to the story on the express kidnapping in San Quintin today - here is the correct link:


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Same story from AFN:


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- No one is saying if this action is related to the killings in Tres de Octubre, but the SSPM announced that as of today, police filters to be installed across the city at random locations in order to suppress and prevent criminal activity. This would be for Tijuana, no word yet on Rosarito Beach:


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UPDATE/edit 02/01 @ 12:33AM: There was a flurry of activity after this attack; Mayor Bustamonte assured us the assassins had been captured and this was an isolated incident, that violence generated by the fight between the cartels had not returned to Tijuana. The PAN party through their spokesperson expressed concern and worry that it was not only the attack in colonia Tres de Octubre but the fact that Tijuana is seeing more of these commando groups throughout the city and is fearful of a return to the past.


General Mujica held a press conference along with General Briseno outlining the success of the Mexican Army against organized crime and their confidence in the Municipals, whom they are training. Regarding the "zipizape" in Rosarito, General Briseno stated it was only a misunderstanding.


Reactions from the public are sour and the mood right now is solemn. Just a few days before this tragic event, Chief Capella had an audience enthralled and overjoyed with a real sense of hope for the future - especially for the young people who he was able to connect with. It was heart warming, but now there is a distinct chill in the air.

We'll pick this up tomorrow at some point.

Mayor Bustamonte

Violencia no ha regresado a TJ: Alcade

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Chief Capella's Rap

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UPDATE/edit 02/01 2:00PM:

Well, to whoever "anonymous" was who asked the question here if these murders were perhaps a signal to Omar Bengochea aka "R-12" to keep quiet about who and what he knows regarding organized crime, you were observant. AFN is reporting that officials have informed them that this is one line of inquiry. "R-12", the former Municipal and described as the chief bodyguard of El Aquiles of the Sinaloa cartel surely must be knowledgable not only about Sinaloa operatives and operations, but also those of the CAF.


The other lines of investigation disclosed to AFN are that this event was possibly a "settling of accounts" which would involve either money or dope, or perhaps the assassins were police who are on the cartel payroll.


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What do I think? I think this drug war is a disaster and that both governments need to come up with some alternatives - does anyone out there know what happened to the Global Commission on Drug Policy, are they still around?

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EL MEX: Initial Report

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AFN

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