Brief Timeline of the Hipólito Mora-El Americano Shootout

Translated by Valor for Borderland Beat

Marco Antonio Duarte, correspondent in Michoacán for Noticias MVS unveiled a series of videos of the shootout in La Ruana between the groups of El Americano and Hipólito Mora that occurred on December 16, where 11 people were killed, amongst them the son of Mora, Manolo Mora.

Part 1: (0:4)

Part one of the video shows a group of about 30 men mostly youths and teenagers posing for the camera with laughter and yells showing sticks and slingshots which appear to be new.

The footage is being shot from the bed of a truck outside of a grocery and wine store in La Ruana called “Acuario's”.  Thanks to a 360 panoramic shot, we can observe how the group of El Americano prefers to show off armas blancas (knives?) rather than the assault rifles and pistols that several men are carrying behind the camera.

Part 2: (0:24)

Part two of the video shows at least 30 vehicles belonging to El Americano’s group most of them are luxury trucks that are armored and there are also some with the Fuerza Rural logo.  Outside of the store we can see women and kids as well as two men who are carrying an AR-15 and AK-47.

Part 3: (0:44)

Part 3 of the video shows El Americano’s people getting into their trucks and beginning to head towards the checkpoint, while the radio frequency “Dos Metros”, a voice is heard inciting violence: “Take pipes, sticks, slingshots, everything.  We’re on our way over”

Part 4: (1:26)

It’s not until part four of the video where more than 30 vehicles are heading towards the checkpoint of Hipolito Mora, with the voice of El Americano in the radio frequency indicating: “I’ve had it up to here, the problem wasn’t with Hipólito, nor with those, it was with the gendarmerie, so now let them endure it; they are telling us to turn around, let them endure it, to hell.  Everyone come over here”. (sic)

In the course of the convoy, El Americano continues, giving instructions prior to the attack: “The problem was with the gendarmerie.  Hipólito brought people, well then, let’s show them what can be done with sandbags and what can be done with weapons, to hell”. (sic)

Part 5: (2:49)

Part five of the video continues with the convoy of luxury trucks, the Fuerza Rural vehicles, and the vehicles of El Americano approaching the checkpoint of Hipólito Mora, located in the ranch of “Los Palmares”, along the avenue that connects La Ruana with the intersection of the road Buenavista-Tepalcatepec.

Part 6: (4:32)

In the last video, the men of El Americano have arrived at the checkpoint of Hipólito Mora from the east and attempt to enter from the side, with assault rifles ready to fire.  Unable to enter the ranch, the fans of El Americano return to the road screaming profanity, approaching within 10 meters of the checkpoint to attack with rocks and sticks.

Later, several of his men shelter themselves behind the trucks that they managed to place close to the checkpoint, where their tempers are exacerbated with the arrival of the group of vehicles: a Chevy Silverado, another Jeep Liberty with the number 27 of the Fuerza Rural, and another Dodge Durango, with the Fuerza Rural logo.  Immediately we hear “Draw, draw”, challenging Hipólito Mora’s people.

The people of El Americano split up their aims and aim their rifles both at the checkpoint and towards the west side of the road, where another convoy has arrived around 50 meters from where they are, until then, it is unknown who’s convoy it is.  Suddenly three shots are heard, which triggers the shootout.

From the group of El Americano shouts are heard “Throw the papas, throw the papas”, an order to throw grenades.  From this same side, someone tries to yell to hold fire, recognizing that at the other end of the road, there are men who might belong to El Americano and amongst the crossfire, innocent people are also found.

Categories: Autodefensas, Drug War, mexico, Michoacán