By Marisela Ortega Lozano / El Paso TimesJuárez Police Chief Julian Leyzaola survived an assassination attempt Thursday morning in downtown Juarez, an official said.
Two men shot at his motorcade and his bodyguards returned fire, wounding one of the assailants, officials said. The other suspect fled the scene.
No police officers were harmed in the attack, officers said.
The incident took place Thursday morning in the La Chaveña neighborhood near downtown Juárez when Leyzaola was riding with his bodyguards, the official said.
Officers arrested Roberto López Valles, 24, in connection with the ambush. They also seized a gun and a charger.
Leyzaola, a retired Mexican Army lieutenant colonel, was sworn in as Juarez police chief in March. In his role, Leyzaola has taken on the huge challenge of fighting crime in one of Mexico's most violent cities.
In a interview with the El Paso Times earlier this month, Leyzaola talked about Los Zetas, a criminal organization in México labeled as one of the bloodiest groups.
"I don't know why Los Zetas are so feared," Leyzaola said during the interview, held in Juarez. "In the end they're just criminals. They're not different from the rest just because they call themselves Zetas.
"Am I supposed to tremble when the Zetas are mentioned or what? I think it is them who should tremble when they talk about the authorities," Leyzaola said.
Forty Juárez police officers have been killed since Juárez Mayor Héctor Murguía took office on Oct. 10, 2010. Fourteen Juárez police officers have been ambushed this year, according to the Juárez Department of Public Safety.
Since January 2008, more than 8,000 people had been killed in Juárez.
This guy is a true hero. He talks the talk and walks the walk. He didn't ask for political asylum in the U.S. and yet he hasn't got any U.S. news coverage yet for being the police chief of Juarez. Good work B.B. giving credit where it is due.
ReplyDeleteat first i thought he was giving the finger, i was about to say "big F U to organized crime" this guys brave.
ReplyDeleteThis assasin needs to be tortured and questioned every associate of his arrested at once tortured and questioned every associate of theirs tortured then kill them all when the string runs out. Journalist and human rights people need to piss off. Leave this man alone get the leftist political BS out, he will make a difference and change the atmosphere in JUAREZ, the overal outcome would be hugley positive.
ReplyDeleteMy brother emilio is scared of the zetas nigga pleaes
ReplyDeleteDFL Get a life and grow a dick! You're on here like everyday talking some dumb shit like you're tough because it's on the internet. You said you live in texas so it's really easy to cross the border into mexico and say in their face.Don't you know a hard head makes a soft ass?
ReplyDelete@ DFL
ReplyDeleteLearn how to spell or use spell check! What is a vulcher?
Two assailants vs Leyzaola's security motorcade..hardly an assassination attempt and on top of that..one of the idiots gets wounded and caught! If the cartels were serious, there would have been a great deal more sicarios involved especially since everybody knows Leyzaola is no punk. You have to figure the dumbass who was wounded is only alive, so he can be interrogated.
ReplyDelete@06/23-10:53PM,
ReplyDeleteIn your comment to "DFL," with regards to using spell check are you insinuating he misspelled the word "Vulcher?" If you don't know what a "Vulcher" is, how would you know it is spelled wrong..btw that is the correct spelling. Maybe instead of "shitting" on other people's posts, you should scrutinize your own comments first, as far as "What is a Vulcher?" Look it up..genius !
The correct spelling is " vulture" I don't know what a " vulcher" is. When people misspell words it makes them sound stupid. " stopt mafkig stoofid miscakes! " does that sound intelligent to you?
ReplyDeletehell ya. This is what Mexico needs. More of these guys. Just hope that "more of these guys" stay alive. Its tough now adays.
ReplyDeleteI live in Monterrey and we need about 10 of these.
I like this guy.
ReplyDeleteasi mero mi coronel .....esos son hombres, deles guerra don julian.
ReplyDelete