2nd Arrested in Juarez Massacre

Mexican federal police arrest second man in connection to Juárez massacre.

El Paso Times

Ciudad Juarez, Chih - Mexican federal police arrested a second man in connection to the recent Juárez massacre in which 16 people, including 11 teenagers, were killed at a birthday party.

Israel Arzate Meléndez, also know as "El 24" or "el country," told police that he shot a 37-year-old man late Jan. 30 while he was guarding outside a home where the party was taking place. Police identified that man as Manuel Hernández Villegas Arzate Meléndez was watching out for Adrian Ramírez, or "El Rama or El 12." Police said Ramírez is an El Pasoan who masterminded the mass attack that killed students and athletes in a southeastern Juárez neighborhood.

Details about the massacre have been inconsistent.

Police said on Tuesday that Adrián Ramírez led the group of shooters working for the Juárez drug cartel La Linea. They initially released the names of 16 killed people. One day later, authorities said they were not sure it was Ramirez but the assailant as "Ramon" and said 15 victims had died.

Today, police again said the name of the leader is Adrián Ramírez, who was killed in a shootout with soldiers on Monday.

Federal officials said the team of shooters were tipped off that people attending the birthday party were members of a rival gang known as Artistas Asesinos (Artists Assassins), who reportedly work for the Joaquín "Chapo" Guzmán drug cartel from Sinaloa. Officials said the victims were gang members, but most of them were identified as students and athletes.

More details released Tuesday revealed that the attackers initially did not mean to kill some women and children, until the leader Ramírez said "parejo a todos," which roughly translates to all the same treatment.

Mexican authorities have identified three more suspects and issued arrest warrants.

Police arrested José Dolores Arroyo Chavarría last Monday for his involvement in the massacre as the "halcón," which means lookout.

Categories: ciudad juarez, juarez student massacre