25 slain during weekend in Juárez
By Stephanie Sanchez / El Paso Times
Article Launched: 05/26/2008 12:03:26 AM MDT


At least 25 people -- including two police officers -- were found dead during the weekend in Juárez, after an e-mail warning people that this weekend would be the "bloodiest and deadliest" surfaced.

The e-mail warned residents to stay in their homes, refrain from going to nightclubs and avoid major streets. The message, which spread on both sides of the border, stated that there would be shootings and

execution-style killings throughout the city in what was being called 'la limpia,' or the cleansing.

One man, whose name has not been released, was found dead at the intersection of Emiliano Zapata and Rubén Jaramillo streets at about 2:45 a.m. Sunday. The man, who was between 35 and 40 years old, appeared to have five bullet wounds, Mexican police said.

Another person's charred body was found in the back of a blue 1995 Chevrolet pickup in a parking lot on Chihuahua and Tapachula streets at 11:13 a.m. Sunday. Mexican police said they could not determine if the person was a woman or a man.

Fabián Reyes Urbina, 32, and Carlos Valdez RodrÃ*guez, 39, both fully dressed in their municipal police officer uniforms, were gunned down at Juan Mata Ortiz and Acacias streets. One of the officers was killed inside a green 1993 Ford Escort while the other man was found dead on the sidewalk.

More than 33 people were killed this past week compared with 25 slayings the previous week.

The mob-style killings and ambushes are part of a rash of organized crime that has
been linked to warring drug cartels.
The circulation of the e-mail caused the city's public safety secretary Roberto Orduña Cruz on Thursday to advise residents to stay calm.

Mexican authorities could not be reached for comment Sunday.

Mexican officials have said there have been more than 300 homicides in Juárez so far this year.

The Mexican federal government has sent 2,500 soldiers and federal police to Juárez in an attempt to control the violence.

El Paso police, the sheriff's office, FBI and other officials have said they do not anticipate the violence will spill over to the U.S. side, but are prepared if anything were to happen.

Stephanie Sanchez may be reached at ssanchez@elpasotimes.com; 546-6137.









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