14 Bodies Found in SLP- Death Toll Climbs in Mexico's Bloody Week

Chivis Martinez for Borderland Beat
8-10-12 UPDATE AT BOTTOM OF SLP KILLINGS One victim escaped...


Van where 14 bodies were dumped and the gas staion where one victim escaped

Mexico’s Bloody Week In August –Death Toll At least 36 In 2 Days

In the latest report of killings it is a  mass murder with a death count of 14 left in a van (21 in total in S).  A total 36 in a little over 2 days.  These include multiple murders, such as five family members killed in Acapulco, 6 patrons in a bar in Mexico state and 4 women in Torreon.

At the "Pachangon Bar", gunmen entered the facility in the early hours of Wednesday and began  indiscriminately shooting patrons and employees.  There were injured victims in addition to the 6 killed.

Four in Torreon, Coahuila above-Pachangon Bar below

In Torreon, Coahuila the bodies of 4 young women were discovered Wednesday outside a baseball field.  The women were between 19-24 year old, including 19 year old twins. The cause of death of the four was by strangulation.

In the latest reported murders the Attorney General of the State of  San Luis Potosí (PGJE) reported the gruesome discovery of 14 bodies, all  were men who bodies were discarded  inside a van, at kilometer 12 on the road leading from  Zacatecas to San Luis Potosi. Police reported 21 dead in total with the 14, all in SLP. (see El Universal article at bottom for details)

Via his Twitter account, the State Attorney General said the bodies were found near a gas station known as La Posta and according to the information received, the men are most likely originated from Coahuila, where  they were kidnapped.  "So far we know that the victims were kidnapped in Coahuila state, then made a stopover in Zacatecas, and on the way to this city, were killed," the state attorney said in a statement.

Although the bodies were dumped in SLP, it appears they were killed elsewhere.

The discovery was made at 4:00 Thursday morning, when the abandoned vehicle was inspected. According to the PGJE, the vehicle was obtained through a violent carjacking and it is described as a Mercedes Benz type white van with curtains on its windows and license plate TP-55240. 

There are reports that there is an injured person that is related to the death of the 14 men.  Furthermore, the injured victim is hospitalized.  The circumstances were not given surrounding the injured person.

The vehicle was confiscated by the authorities to initiate investigations. After the discovery, authorities and the state police director Jose Luis Urban, and the head of the Ministry of Public Security in the State, Joel Melgar, rushed to the scene, as well as prosecutors, staff of Expert Services and Investigator agents, to begin with investigations. This occurs within 48 hours of Heliodorus Guerrero Guerrero resigned as head of the Ministry of Public Security of the State.

Notimex-Vanguardia-Hoy Por Hoy

Photo: EFE

UPDATE 8-10-12

Looks like my orginal report of 14 dead and one injured was correct  and here are the details.  Translated from El Universal

Thursday San Luis Potosi experienced  a series of chases and shootouts, leaving three dead plus four prisoners, and the discovery of 14 bodies dumped in a truck, with one man managing  to escape this slaughter because he faked his death and fled to a mountain.

De acuerdo con la Secretaría de Seguridad Pública federal (SSP), dicha persona fue auxiliada por policías estatales que la encontraron tras haber escapado y la trasladaron a un nosocomio donde se le reporta fuera de peligro. According to the federal Public Security Secretariat (SSP), that person was assisted by state police who found him after having escaped and taken to a hospital where he was reported out of danger.

La víctima "indicó que al percatarse de los hechos, fingió encontrarse sin vida y aprovechó el momento en que los presuntos homicidas cargaban combustible para internarse en un monte en donde posteriormente fue auxiliado por elementos de la Policía Estatal", precisó. The victim stated that when he realized what was happening, he pretended to be dead, allowing the sicarios to throw him into the van with the other bodies. When he determined there was an opportunity to escape as the gunmen stopped for fuel, he fled to the mountains where he was subsequently helped by elements of the State Police," he said.

La mañana del jueves, una llamada alertó a las autoridades sobre la presencia de una furgoneta abandonada con cuerpos en su interior en la carretera a Zacatecas. On Thursday morning, a call alerted authorities about the presence of an abandoned truck with bodies inside on the road to Zacatecas. En el lugar fueron encontrados 14 cadáveres con señales de tortura y disparos de arma de fuego. At the site were found 14 bodies bearing signs of torture and gun shots.

Los hechos de violencia continuaron en el poniente de la ciudad con balaceras y persecuciones. The violence continued in the western part of the town with gunfights and chases. En total se reportaron 21 muertos , incluidas las víctimas de la camioneta y el hallazgo de otros cuatro cuerpos en distintos puntos de la ciudad, así como cuatro detenidos y tres policías federales heridos . In total 21 deaths were reported, including victims of the truck and the discovery of four bodies in different parts of the city, and four federal police arrested and three wounded.

En un comunicado, la SSP confirmó que la Policía Federal tuvo conocimiento de la presencia de personas armadas en las inmediaciones de la Plaza San Luis; al acudir al lugar, hombres armados atacaron a los agentes en la Glorieta de La Familia, que converge con la carretera 80 Tampico-Barra de Navidad. In a statement, the SSP confirmed that the Federal Police learned of the presence of armed persons near the Plaza San Luis, and proceeded to the site, gunmen attacked police in the Glorieta de La Familia, which converges with the Highway 80 Tampico-Barra de Navidad.

"Los agresores disparaban desde una camioneta Pick Up, Chevrolet Sierra color gris e intentaban escapar ya que momentos antes habían sostenido un enfrentamiento con personal de la Secretaría de la Defensa Nacional", refirió la dependencia. "The attackers fired from a pickup truck, Chevrolet Sierra gray and trying to escape.  It has just experienced  a confrontation with staff of the Secretariat of National Defense", said the agency.

Tras el ataque, policías federales, personal militar y agentes estatales continuaron la persecución de los sujetos, quienes fueron interceptados en la colonia Balcones del Valle. After the attack, federal police, military and government agents continued the pursuit of the subjects, who were intercepted at the colony Balcones del Valle.

Después de este aseguramiento se reportó la presencia de otros hombres armados en un inmueble de la colonia Lomas del Tecnológico, desde el cual varios sujetos realizaron disparos con armas largas, lo que dio origen a un enfrentamiento en donde perdieron la vida tres presuntos delincuentes y cuatro más fueron asegurados. It was reported the presence of armed men in a building of the Lomas of Technology, from which several subjects were shot with rifles, which led to a clash that killed three suspected criminals and four more were secured.

Estos hechos se suscitaron cuando la Policía Federal realizaba trabajos de inspección, seguridad y vigilancia en seguimiento a las investigaciones derivadas del hallazgo de la camioneta con los 14 cuerpos sin vida. These events took place when the Federal Police carried out works of inspection, monitoring security and surveillance in investigations arising from the discovery of the van with the 14 dead bodies.

Durante los operativos, las autoridades aseguraron 16 armas largas y una corta, dos lanzagranadas calibre 40 milímetros, 19 granadas calibre 40 milímetros, 6 granadas de mano, 182 cargadores calibre 7.62x 39, 30 cargadores calibre 223 y un cargador calibre 45. During the raids, authorities said 16 guns and a short, two 40 mm caliber grenade launchers, 19 grenades, 40 mm caliber, 6 hand grenades, 182 7.62x 39 caliber magazines, 30 magazines and a charger 223 caliber 45 caliber.

Además de 4 mil 060 cartuchos calibre 7.62x 39 milímetros, 810 cartuchos calibre 223, dos inmuebles, 5 vehículos (uno de ellos blindado), diversos medios de comunicación y equipo táctico. In addition to 4 000 060 7.62x 39 mm caliber cartridges, 810 cartridges caliber 223, two buildings, 5 vehicles (one armored), various media and tactical equipment.

En estos operativos resultaron heridos tres elementos de la Policía Federal quienes reciben atención médica y se encuentran fuera de peligro, añadió.In these operations, injuring three elements of the Federal Police who received medical care and are now out of danger, he added.