Suspected hit men arrested in Juárez
By Daniel Borunda / El Paso Times
Posted: 06/07/2009 11:03:31 PM MDT

The Mexican army captured two suspected hit men shortly after they shot and killed a man in Juárez over the weekend, military officials said.

The suspected sicarios Antonio Sandoval Guerrero and Ernesto Hernandez Espinoza were allegedly in possession of two handguns and nearly 24 pounds of marijuana when their car was stopped Friday night at a surprise checkpoint by soldiers acting on a tip, officials said.

Soldiers were told by a woman that the men, riding in a dark blue Chevrolet Cavalier with Texas plates, had killed a man near downtown Juárez.

Military officials did not disclose who was the homicide victim but Chihuahua state police reported Alfredo Stopani Santillan, 45, was fatally shot that evening inside Mercado Solidaridad.

In other news, the army late Friday arrested a group of heavily-armed drug traffickers when soldiers spotted armed men entering a house in the 2800 block of Esperanza street, officials said.

Soldiers seized three AK-47s, six handguns, four rifles, gas grenades, three bulletproof vests and other equipment. They also found 121 pounds of marijuana and 11 vehicles. Three men and two women were arrested.

Meanwhile, authorities are investigating a group of soldiers accused of assaulting, grabbing cameras and threating at gunpoint Juárez newspaper photographers and television cameramen covering a Thursday night traffic accident. Four soldiers and a policewoman were injured when a patrol vehicle rolled.

News video showed soldiers taking camera equipment and shining flashlights into camera lens.

"We are not in a state of siege. The freedom to inform exists," said a statement by the Society of Journalists and Communicators of Ciudad Juárez condeming the confrontation. "Gentlemen of the army, do not be mistaken. Journalists are not the enemy."

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

http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_12543024