Gunmen kill relatives of Mexican marine in possible revenge attack

At least 3 family members die when their home is stormed in Tabasco. The killings could be retribution for the death of drug lord Arturo Beltran Leyva in a recent shootout in which the marine also died.

By Tracy Wilkinson
December 22, 2009 | 8:25 a.m.

Reporting from Mexico City - Gunmen early today killed at least three relatives of a marine who died in the shootout last week that claimed the life of one of Mexico's top drug lords, Mexican television reported.

In the shocking attack, the gunmen killed the marine's mother and two other relatives after bursting into the family home in the state of Tabasco shortly after midnight, Televisa said, citing police sources. Other Mexican media said a fourth relative, a sister, also was killed.

Arturo Beltran Leyva, head of a major narco-trafficking organization, was killed along with six of his gunmen in an intense Dec. 16 shootout with members of Mexico's navy special forces. One infantryman, Melquisedec Angulo Córdova, died in the operation.

Angulo Cordova was buried on Monday, with his family and numerous navy officers in attendance. His mother, Irma Cordova, received a folded flag. Hours later, she too was dead.

Details remained sketchy, but speculation centered on the possibility that the attack was a revenge hit ordered by Beltran Leyva's allies and intended as a chilling message to the Mexican military.

tracy.wilkinson@latimes.com

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