50 bullets hit car with Texas plates in Juárez; 3 slain
By Daniel Borunda \ El Paso Times
Posted: 11/01/2010 12:00:00 AM MDT


Three people riding in a BMW with Texas license plates were killed in a shooting during the weekend in Juárez.

Chihuahua state police identified the victims as Guillermo Araiza Hidalgo, 23, Luis Carlos Araiza Hidalgo, 15, and Giovanna Herrera, 26.

A spokesman for the Chihuahua attorney general's office on Sunday did not have information on whether any of the victims were El Paso residents or U.S. citizens.

Police said shooters fired 50 rounds from 9 mm and .223-caliber weapons, peppering the black 2001 BMW X5 with bullets during an assault late Saturday morning on the Juárez-Porvenir road. The vehicle was being driven by Guillermo Araiza. All three died at the scene.

In other news, a Juárez university student is in stable condition and expected to recover after being shot in the abdomen by Mexican federal police during a protest Friday, university officials said.

Jose Dario Alvarez Orrantia, 19, is in his first semester studying sociology at the Autonomous University of Ciudad Juárez.

The shooting occurred during the "March Against Death" to protest the violence and the "militarization" of Juárez.

University officials condemned the shooting in an open letter to Mexican President Felipe Calderón and other government leaders.

"At this time, the university community is offended by these acts of violence that are in addition to other acts in which we have been victims. In none of these cases have the corresponding authorities made
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significant advances in their investigations," the letter stated.

Federal police said in a statement that the shooting occurred when officers -- who were responding to a shooting nearby -- fired warning shots into the air after running into protesters, some of whom were masked. Two police officers were detained. An investigation continues.

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


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