Background on the Incident
On Friday night, two men were killed in Tlaquepaque, Jalisco, after armed individuals attacked them at a taco shop in the Residential La Soledad area. The victims were reportedly engaged in police training activities within the state.
Initial Reports and Denials
Local media initially suggested that the victims might have connections to the U.S. Embassy’s International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Office (INL). However, Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo denied these claims during a press conference in Baja California Sur.
“The Security Cabinet will provide information about this attack. The information I have so far is that they were not (collaborators) with the embassy; the embassy itself issued a statement,” Sheinbaum Pardo said.
Confirmation from the U.S. Consulate
The U.S. Consulate in Guadalajara confirmed that the deceased were not active employees of the U.S. diplomatic mission in Mexico, stating that they could not provide further details due to the ongoing investigation.
“It is worth noting that, at present, the victims were not employees of the United States’ diplomatic mission in Mexico. Due to the ongoing investigation, we cannot provide additional details at this time,” the consulate’s spokesperson said in a statement.
Victims and Their Backgrounds
Identified Victims
The two men killed in Tlaquepaque have been identified as César Gustavo Guzmán González and Carlos Amador Chavela. Both had extensive experience in public and private security, both nationally and internationally.
- César Guzmán González: He served as the president of the ASIS International Western Chapter, a global organization dedicated to professional development in security matters.
- Carlos Amador Chavela: He was recognized as an experienced international security and crime organization combat instructor.
Reactions from the Security Community
Following Guzmán González’s death, ASIS Capítulo México expressed its sorrow on social media, deeply mourning his loss and extending condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues.
Additional Information
Besides the two fatalities, four other individuals sustained injuries during the attack.
Key Questions and Answers
- Q: Who were the victims? A: César Gustavo Guzmán González and Carlos Amador Chavela, both with significant experience in security fields.
- Q: Were the victims linked to the U.S. Embassy? A: No, according to both President Sheinbaum Pardo and the U.S. Consulate in Guadalajara.
- Q: What were the victims’ roles? A: César Guzmán González was the president of ASIS International’s Western Chapter, while Carlos Amador Chavela was an international security and crime organization instructor.
- Q: How many people were injured? A: Four individuals sustained injuries in addition to the two fatalities.
