Reporter killed, Matamoros shootout continues

written by: The Brownsville Herald

Sources have confirmed that a reporter from Matamoros was gunned down while covering a string of shootouts in the city.

Carlos Alberto Guajardo, 37, from Periodico El Expresso, was gunned down while covering a string of shootouts in Matamoros, said a source with firsthand knowledge of the incident.

According to the source, Guajardo, a lifetime crime reporter, was on his day off when he was called to gather information about the ongoing shootout between the Mexican military and armed gunmen.

Details of the shooting death remain sketchy, but the source stated that Guajardo was gunned down along Calle Sexta near the Plaza Fiesta Shopping Center.

The information couldn’t be confirmed, but a coworker of Guajardo claimed that the shots that killed Guajardo came from the Mexican military after he got too close to the shootout.

Mexican authorities are reporting various firefights throughout Matamoros.

Details of the fighting which began Friday morning couldn’t be confirmed but authorities stated that some of the armed gunmen taking part in the firefight are believed to belong to the Gulf Cartel and the Zetas, as well as members of the Mexican military, said a Mexican law enforcement official whose name couldn’t be released citing security reasons.

Some of the fighting was reported on Calle Alvaro Obregon near the Hotel Residencial where apparently grenades were thrown at the hotel where Mexican federal police are know to stay, which is close to B&M International Bridge, he said. The street has been sealed off, he added.


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Shootings were also reported along Avenida del Niño, and in the Colonia Mariano Matamoros. Another shooting took place near the outskirts of Matamoros along the highway to Reynosa where apparently a convoy of Zetas clashed with a contingent of Gulf Cartel members before authorities arrived, he said.

A source with firsthand knowledge of criminal activity in Matamoros claimed that authorities captured a group commander for one of the criminal organizations. He wouldn’t say who, or which organization.

The source claimed that the Mexican military was in the process of moving the alleged commander to the Matamoros airport.

The Mexican law enforcement official refused to confirm or deny the alleged capture.

PHOTO: HORACERO.COM.MX