July 13, 2008, 2:57PM
8 gunned down in embattled Mexican state of Sinaloa



MEXICO CITY — Local news media say gunmen opened fire on four cars on a busy street in the Mexican city of Guamuchil, killing eight people.

The government news agency Notimex reports that Sinaloa state officials say three teenagers are among those killed in the early morning attack. No one answered the phone at Sinaloa police headquarters Sunday.

The local newspaper El Debate says police found about 300 shells at the scene.

Several major drug trafficking groups have their roots in the Pacific coast state, which has seen a wave of drug-related violence.

On Saturday, assailants killed a state police officer in the port city of Mazatlan and hid in a shopping mall. The group seized hostages but freed them in a deal to escape.


http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/world/5885928.html