http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_11402475

Juárez-area slayings top 20 in new year
By Daniel Borunda / El Paso Times
Posted: 01/08/2009 12:00:00 AM MST

Two men in a sport utility vehicle were gunned down Wednesday evening as the rash of killings topped 20 this year in the Juárez area, police said.

The unidentified men were in the front seat of a Chevrolet Blazer in the Satelite area of east Juárez, Chihuahua state police said. The double homicide was the second of the day.

The first double homicide of the day occurred about 5:15 a.m. in the 300 block of Calle 57 just south of downtown, state police said. One man was found dead on the ground next to an open passenger door of a gray 1995 Nissan Maxima with Colorado plates. The second man was found about 10 meters away. Both were shot multiple times.

One of the victims was identified as Felix Martinez Bravo, 35, but the name of the second man had yet to be confirmed.

Also Wednesday, Jorge Curiel Estrada, 35, was found dead, crushed under the left front tire of a stolen Chevrolet Cavalier on a dirt road in Anapra close to the entrance to Cristo Negro, police said.

Two other men died on Wednes day at Juárez hospitals of wounds received last month, investigators said.

Oscar Paulino Corral Ne varez, 23, died of head wounds in a Dec. 29 robbery. Jorge Salazar Ruiz, 30, died after being shot Dec. 26 in the town of Ahumada.

On Tuesday, five killings occurred, including a night shooting in which a man was killed and a woman and another man were wounded, police said.

Adrian Mota Cardenas, 26, was shot to death on the street in front of a house in the 2500 block of General Baudelio Uribe Street. Investigators found 13 bullet casings of 40 mm and 9 mm calibers.

Daniel Borunda may be reached at dborunda@elpasotimes.com; 546-6102.