Two police officers among nine killed in Juárez in last 24 hours

By Marisela Ortega Lozano / EL PASO TIMES
Posted: 07/21/2011 02:47:34 PM MDT

Two police officers were killed and another one seriously wounded in two separate incidents, part of at least nine people killed in Juárez within the last 24 hours.

Daniel Escobar Bonilla, 28, a Juárez police officer, was shot to death Wednesday night at "El Nivel" bar on Uruguay Street and 20 de Noviembre Avenue inside El Barreal neighborhood, Juárez authorities said.

An unidentified police officer was wounded and taken to a local hospital along with a woman joining them at the bar, said Adrián Sánchez of the Juárez Department of Public Safety.

State forensic experts retrieved 10 bullet casings at the scene. Officials said both Juárez officers were off duty when they were shot, officials said.

On Wednesday, a Chihuahua state police officer was found dead inside his black Lincoln Navigator at Presa de la Amistad and Presa Falcón streets inside Independencia I neighborhood.

Oscar Luis Vásquez Hernández, 33, was shot several times, Chihuahua state prosecutors said.

As of Thursday, 15 Juárez police officers had been killed - most in the line of duty, Sánchez said.

Also Wednesday, three men on their late 30s were riddled with bullets at Juan Balderas and José MarÃ*a Sánchez streets inside Francisco I. Madero neighborhood.

Police found one victim lying in the middle of the streets, while the other two were inside a green Chevrolet Tahoe vehicle.

At the scene, 74 bullet casings were recovered.

Jesús Antonio Romero, 31, was found shot to death at a home at Riveras del Agave and Rivera de las Flores streets inside Riveras del Bravo neighborhood.
Also in Riveras del Bravo, an unidentified man was found dead at Rivera de Conchos and Rivera de Santini streets, officials said. The man was wrapped in a burgundy-and-black blanket and tied up with tape. No visible signs of foul play were found on the body, officials said.

Nearby, police found blood inside a vacant home that could be connected to the dead man, authorities said.

On Wednesday, a man was shot to death on the sidewalk at Independencia Boulevard and Zaragoza Boulevard, state police said.

Genaro Espitia Landeros was shot three times at point-blank range in the head and left ear.

Filiberto Soto EnrÃ*quez, 51, was shot in the chest. It remains unclear why the man was shot, officials said.

Marisela Ortega Lozano may be reached at mortega@elpasotimes.com; 542-6077.

http://www.elpasotimes.com/newupdated/ci_18523272