El Pepino Among the Dead

Xalisco, Nayarit - The Attorney General of the State of Nayarit confirmed the death of Jose Luis Estrada Martinez, “El Pepino” or "The Cucumber" a local drug trafficker, alleged leader of the plaza and the number of slain increased by twelve during confrontation between rival criminal groups early this Tuesday in the municipality of Xalisco.

According to the latest police report the confrontation that arose at 00:45 hours on Tuesday in the towns of La Curva and San José de Costilla in the municipality of Xalisco left a total of twelve people dead, which included eight that were burnt inside a truck and four that were executed with gunshots.

According to police sources among those executed is the father of José Luis Estrada Martínez “El Pepino,” and a woman along with her personal bodyguards.

According to official statements from the authorities, the wife of the alleged local drug dealer was able to identify the body of her husband who was 38 years old and originally from the town of Ruiz, Nayarit.

The identity of the alleged drug dealer was confirmed after locating a steel plate with 8 screws in the body, as well as bridge molar on the teeth.

In the Forensic Medical Service of Nayarit managed to identify six of the twelve dead bodies.

One of the deceased was identified as Juan Manuel Castañeda Correa. His body had a voter registration card in the pocket of his pants and the picture matched with the facial features of the now deceased.

Another of the bodies was that of Pedro Luis Lopez Palomares, 19-year-old man from Villa Union, Sinaloa, who was identified by his mother.

The fourth had the name of Francisco Javier López García, 35-year-old native and resident of this city of Tepic, Nayarit, who was identified by his sister.

Another body was that of José Luciano Jasso Izar, a 31-year-old native and resident of this city of Tepic, who was identified by his wife who recognized a key ring in the left pocket of his burned trousers.

The sixth that had not been burned was identified as Ismael Castañeda Correa, a native of San Pedro Analco, a municipality of Tequila, Jalisco adjacent to Tepic. He was identified by his wife.

The attorney general also said that at least 10 vehicles were found at the scene with weapons inside.

So far there are no suspects arrested for the killings.

"Now, things are going to get ugly and heated in the palza," said one of the agents assigned to the case investigating the slaughter in Xalisco, Nayarit.

Categories: Mexican Crime, nayarit, sicarios