Nine People, Including Two Police Officers, Killed in Cuernavaca Shootouts

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Nine individuals, including two police officers, tragically lost their lives on Monday during a wave of violence in Cuernavaca, Morelos, according to the local city government. The unfortunate sequence of events unfolded in the early hours of the day when a group of criminals targeted a gathering of people enjoying drinks on the streets of the Altavista neighborhood. The assailants, armed and traveling in two SUVs and a motorcycle, opened fire, resulting in one fatality, one injury, and an attempted abduction of a third individual, as reported by the Cuernavaca Ministry of Citizen Protection and Assistance (Seprac) in a statement shared on social media.

Promptly responding to reports of the crime, municipal police immediately pursued the criminals. However, this led to a series of shootouts between law enforcement and the armed group. The first confrontation occurred in the Carolina neighborhood, during which two police officers, identified as Juan Carlos Salgado Flores and Francisco Calderón Armenta, tragically lost their lives, while two others sustained injuries. The violence intensified in this clash, resulting in the death of a civilian travelling in a Jeep Cherokee and an injury to a motorcyclist. Police managed to apprehend the injured individual and seize both the SUV and the motorbike.

Meanwhile, another confrontation between police and criminals unfolded on Emiliano Zapata Avenue in Tlaltenango, one of the twelve original “towns” in Cuernavaca. In this second clash, five civilians travelling in a Nissan Rogue SUV lost their lives. Disturbing videos shared on social media by residents captured the terrifying sound of gunshots echoing through the streets.

Mayor José Luis Urióstegui of Cuernavaca expressed his dismay at the rapid escalation of events, emphasizing that the police responded promptly to the initial act of violence. He reassured the public that the injured officers were in stable condition and their lives were not in immediate danger.

Tragically, this recent incident adds to the growing toll on law enforcement personnel in Mexico. According to Causa en Común, a non-governmental organization based in Mexico City, at least 377 police officers have been killed in the country this year alone. Guanajuato currently tops the list, recording the highest number of police murders in 2023, followed by Guerrero where a heartbreaking ambush last month claimed the lives of 12 officers and a municipal security secretary.

Morelos, located just south of Mexico City, has unfortunately earned a reputation as one of the most violent states in the country. Federal government data reveals that the state ranked eighth in terms of total homicides during the first 10 months of 2023, with a staggering 1,214 recorded cases.

The devastating events in Cuernavaca serve as a grim reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement in Mexico and the urgent need for comprehensive measures to address the country’s security crisis. As the nation mourns the loss of lives and hopes for a safer future, it is crucial for authorities to redouble their efforts to protect both the public and the dedicated individuals who risk their lives to uphold the rule of law..