Julian Leyzaola: The hitman said the police chief sent him to kill me

By Lucio R. Borderland Beat, written using material from Zeta Tijuana Magazine

Details of the attempted assassination as told by Leyzaola

From the Military Hospital in Mexico City, Juárez, Julian Leyzaola the former Secretary of Public Security, gave an interview to Zeta in Tijuana.  

In the interview the former secretary says that just before the attack, the gunman told Leyzaola that he had a message for him, he then told him that it (the hit) was from Juárez municipal police chief Jesús Antonio Reyes Ramírez (image below left).

Leyzaola also told Zeta Magazine, that he had no faith in justice being achieved in his case, that the police would not even take his statement.  He shares that his transfer to D.F. was because of security issues.

He says he is contemplating after his rehabilitation is complete, to move back to Baja California and live a “normal life, like normal people”.

A week following the attempt on his life, he clarifies what exactly happened on the day that left him with three bullets in his body, one hitting his spine, and also about the man who wished him dead.

Leyzaola chose a trusted journalist, Zeta Tijuana’s editor, Adela Navarro Bello, to share his story with via a telephone interview.

He explains that on the day of the shooting, he was with his wife and two year old son.  They had plans to cross the border into El Paso to shop.  They were on a busy highway and stopped to exchange currency at a “cambio” (money exchange house). 

His wife and son exited the vehicle, leaving him alone behind the wheel of his Jeep.  That is when the sicario approached the vehicle, gave the message and immediately fired into the car.

Leyzaola says he was unarmed because they were going to cross over into the U.S.

During his time as secretary, Leyzaola clashed with the administration of Chief Reyes Ramírez.  

Never a man that is shy about sharing what his conclusions are, he straight out said the Chief was working for “Los Aztecas”. He discovered the ties during his time as secretary.

He says he warned the state government about Reyes Ramírez, when the chief was applying for a position, saying, “he is a scoundrel with ties to organized crime”.

But in time, Leyzaola left his position, and despite his warnings Reyes Ramírez became chief.

About his injuries, he says he was hit by a total of three bullets.  One came in through the side, and is still in his body but poses no problem, another pierced his lung, and the surgery for that injury was successful, but it is the bullet that hit his spine that is the medical issue.  He says he is non-ambulatory, that the bullet “shattered my spine”, and it’s that injury, that is the cause of his need for rehabilitation. 

He did not share a long term prognosis, or if his inability to walk is permanent.