Police: Gunmen after cadet officer in Juárez bar attack
By Adriana Gómez Licón / El Paso Times
Posted: 03/08/2011 09:57:47 AM MST



Police said on Tuesday that gunmen who killed three men in a bar near the U.S. Consulate in Juárez Sunday were after a cadet officer and his companion, but also killed a law student, and wounded two female friends.

Chihuahua state police identified the cadet officer as José Benito Valenzuela, 30 and his friend as Hugo Armando DÃ*az Chávez, 22.

Zechari López, 21, was injured and died later at a hospital. López, a law student at the Autonomous University of Ciudad Juárez, was also the son of a Chihuahua attorney general employee, said spokesman Julio Castañeda.

Gunmen also shot two female friends, and college students, of López in the attack. But they survived.

The attorney general has a suspect in custody. His identity and charges are pending, Castañeda said. Officials have not determined a motive for the attack.

About 2 a.m. on Sunday, between six and eight gunmen carrying small-caliber handguns arrived at the bar "Muro" located feet away from the U.S. Consulate in Plaza Nicole.

The plaza is one of the few hangout spots left in Juárez. The place was in full swing when the shooting broke out.

Plaza Nicole is heavily guarded with private security officers, and patrons have to go through metal detectors in order to get inside the complex of bars and restaurants.

Adriana Gómez Licón may be reached at agomez@elpasotimes.com; 546-6129.

http://www.elpasotimes.com/newupdated/ci_17564689