Thread: Brownsville TX: Multiple shootouts reported in Matamoros

Multiple shootouts reported in Matamoros
September 17, 2010 4:39 PM
The Brownsville Herald

Sources have confirmed at least three intense shootouts today in Matamoros between groups of gunmen and the Mexican military.

The most intense shootout was reported at about 2:30 p.m. in the area of Las Arboledas where a source with firsthand knowledge of criminal activity in Tamaulipas said Mexican Marines were engaging the forces of Ezequiel Cardenas Guillen "Tony Tormenta", one of the leaders of the Gulf Cartel.

Las Arboledas is near Lauro Villar which leads to Veterans International Bridge.

Eyewitnesses reported seeing dozens of bodies of both armed gunmen and Mexican soldiers.

According to a Mexican law enforcement official, the first shootout took place at noon at the Expo Fiesta Sur neighborhood when a group of gunmen with the Gulf Cartel raided a Zeta stash house.

After the Gulf Cartel finished raiding the house, a second shootout occurred outside of the Matamoros Municipal Police Station when the Gulf Cartel convoy ran into a military convoy full of Mexican Marines.

An eyewitness to the shootout reported that a Marina helicopter provided air support to the soldiers by using a sniper.

The military forces then chased the Gulf Cartel forces to the Arboledas neighborhood where the Gulf Cartel made its stand and "the body count grew," a source said.

The Gulf Cartel received reinforcements from one of its lieutenant called M3 who sent gunmen to the area, but Marina also received reinforcements.

Information on the number of dead or injured or if Cardenas was captured wasn’t available from Mexican federal authorities this afternoon.

This is the third time this week that shootouts have been reported in Matamoros. Shootouts were also reported Monday and Tuesday nights.

http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/news/c ... xican.html

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