Vice Admiral Killed in Michoacan Ambushed by Knights of Templar

Vice Admiral Carlos Miguel Salazar Ramonet was Commander of the Eighth Naval District based in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco. He was in a military vehicle with his wife, two military bodyguards and a driver, traveling the Mexico-Morelia highway. A protest forced him to take an alternate route, where he was ambushed and killed. The victim was the Second Section Chief of the Secretary of the Navy of Mexico and also head of Naval Intelligence.

In 2011 Miguel Salazar was appointed to Vice Admiral. On January 16, 2012 he began work in the eighth Naval Zone. Previously he was naval attache in Panama. 

Salazar Ramonet is the first person of high-ranking stature to die in Enrique Pena Nieto's administration in the context of the anti-crime fight. Along with the Admiral, a naval bodyguard died and two others were injured. Ministerial authorities revealed that the navy arrested three suspects, who were transferred last night to the Deputy Attorney Specialized Investigation of Organized Crime (SEIDO), in Mexico City. They are said to be members of the Knights of Templar according to the States Prosecutor, Jesús Murillo Karam.

In this way, the crew of the Suburban were intercepted by gunmen in two trucks, who blocked their way and demanded identification of the Vice Admiral and his companions.

It was noted that the commander of the Eighth Naval District was traveling as a civilian.

In the attack, Salazar Ramonet protected his his wife, who was injured along with the driver, while the commander's assistant also killed.

Murillo Karam explained that the three detainees confessed to being members of the Knights Templar, and they charged 7,500 pesos for various crimes of extortion, robbery and other criminal acts on behalf of that group.

Eduardo Sanchez, spokesman for the Office of Security of the federal government, said that the detainees were identified as Timothy Vargas Infante, José Trinidad Arroyo Regalado and Ramiro Barajas Alvarado.

The suspects were arrested in possession of four guns and a short, all exclusively use of the Armed Forces.

The PGR opened an investigation on charges of homicide, assault and violation of the Federal Law of Firearms and Explosives. 

In the past six years the drug cartels have killed soldiers, Marines and federal, state, and ministerial police,. However, the greatest impact crimes were committed against 3military personnel, including Mauro Enrique Tello Quinones,  Brigadier General, in Cancun on February 3, 2009.

Mauro Enrique Tello Quinones was killed along with a lieutenant and a soldier, their bodies dumped in the free highway Cancun-Merida. The General became the first senior military victim of organized crime in the past six years. 

Vice Admiral Ramonet Salazar  traveling in an official vehicle on Mexico-Morelia highway and was accompanied by his wife, two bodyguards and driver.

At a toll before Ecuandureo they were warned blockages on the Atlacomulco-Guadalajara Highway because a group was protesting.  They decided to take another road, where they were attacked.

The Navy issued a statement in which it reported that the attack occurred at noon on a road located between the towns La Noria and Las Cruces, in Churitzio.

"Elements of the Navy of Mexico, on the Mexico-Morelia highway, diverted to a alternative road, about 1.5 kilometers southwest of La Noria, Michoacán, where they faced people with guns who opened fire on the official vehicle.

"As a result of this unfortunate incident two members of the were killed, including Vice Admiral, Carlos Miguel Salazar Ramonet, Commander of the Eighth Naval District based in Puerto Vallarta," said representative of the military institutio.

Federal authorities said that the death of naval officer was circumstantial, he was heading to Puerto Vallarta to resume work.They made it clear that this was not part of the groups of soldiers, sailors and federal police officers mobilized Michoacan last week to restore order.

A few days ago the Federal Police was the victim of seven ambushes, which left at least 24 people, including four policemen and other criminals.

The authorities stressed that Mexican Army personnel and the Marines moved to the area where the admiral was killed  for the whereabouts of the criminals.

Secretary of the Navy expressed his condolences to the families of the two Marines who "dedicate their service to our nation."

Senior Military

In the past six years assassinations have been committed against other senior senior military officers. In February 2011 the secretary of Public Safety Protection of Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Manuel Farfán Stroller, Brigadier General retired, and two others were killed.

On November 4, 2009, Juan Arturo Esparza Garcia, a retired Brigadier General, was killed while serving as Secretary of Public Security, Vialidad en Garcia, Nuevo Leon.

With his death totaling three generals killed in that six-year period by the cartel Los Zetas.

Meanwhile, more than 3000 police and military have died between September 1, 2006 and September 20, 2011, according to records of the PGR.The deaths include state police, municipal, ministerial, federal and military, who fell in battles, ambushes or attacks by organized crime, according to the National Center for Planning, Analysis and Information to Combat Crime of the federal agency.

Condolences from Peña Nieto
President Enrique Peña Nieto sent his condolences to the families of the slain who were killed Sunday in Michoacan. Through his Twitter account, the chief executive wrote: "I send My heartfelt condolences to the families of Vice Admiral Salazar Ramonet and the element of marines who was killed this afternoon (yesterday) in Michoacan.

Vice Admiral Salazar Ramonet died in an attack on a road located between the towns of La Noria and Las Cruces, Michoacán. The command was headed to Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, to return to work in the eighth Naval Zone.

Milenio

Categories: Churitzio Michoacan, Commander of the Eighth Naval District, La Noria, Las Cruces, Vice Admiral Carlos Miguel Salazar Ramonet