Background on Jalisco and the Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG)
Jalisco, a western state in Mexico, has frequently been the scene of violent incidents, primarily due to the activities of the powerful Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG). In February, the U.S. government designated CJNG as a “foreign terrorist organization.” Jalisco has the highest number of missing persons, with nearly 15,700 out of a total of 120,000 cases nationwide.
Details of the Recent Massacres
On Thursday night, local authorities reported that nine people were killed in two separate massacres in Jalisco, including several minors. The first incident occurred in the municipality of El Arenal, where armed men on motorcycles shot and killed five individuals in a residence. The victims were a 16-year-old girl and an 18-year-old man outside the house, along with two men and a woman inside.
The primary line of investigation in this case points to the victimized woman’s work as a lawyer, aged 48, according to Alfonso Gutiérrez, the Criminal Investigation Vice Fiscal of Jalisco.
In a separate event, four bodies were discovered on Friday morning in an abandoned vehicle within Guadalajara, the state capital. Police responding to a report of foul odors found the remains of an adult man and woman, as well as a 10-year-old girl and a 14-year-old boy, hidden under objects in the truck bed.
The fiscal’s office has not yet determined the motive or cause of death for these victims, but they are working to identify a suspect seen on security camera footage leaving the vehicle on Tuesday night.
Impact and Context
These recent massacres highlight the ongoing violence in Jalisco, largely attributed to the CJNG. The state has experienced a significant number of disappearances, with almost 15,700 out of the total 120,000 cases in Mexico. The designation of CJNG as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. government underscores the severity of the situation.
Key Questions and Answers
- What happened in the massacres? Nine people were killed in two separate incidents in Jalisco, including five in El Arenal and four in Guadalajara.
- Who were the victims? The victims included a 16-year-old girl, an 18-year-old man, two adult men, one adult woman, a 10-year-old girl, and two adults found in Guadalajara.
- What is the primary line of investigation? Authorities are investigating the possible connection between the lawyer work of one of the victims and the El Arenal massacre.
- Who is responsible for the Guadalajara massacre? The fiscal’s office is working to identify a suspect seen on security camera footage leaving the abandoned vehicle where the bodies were found.
- Why is Jalisco experiencing such violence? The Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) is largely responsible for the ongoing violence in Jalisco, with the U.S. government designating CJNG as a foreign terrorist organization.
