Shootout Between Veracruz Police and the CJNG Killed 2 Kids Who Were Washing a Vehicle

"Morogris" for Borderland Beat

Jonathan Herrera Aguilar and Eduardo Jiménez Aguilar were washing a vehicle when they were killed by gunfire. Family members and friends are asking authorities to bring justice to them.

Two children, ages 13 and 15, were shot dead in the middle of an armed confrontation between elements of the Veracruz State Police and an armed group that the authorities identified as the Jalisco Nueva Generación Cartel (CJNG).

The events occurred on the Amatlán-Cuichapa state highway, near the community of La Patrona, in the municipality of Amatlán.

It was reported that the two minors were in the yard of their uncle's house washing a truck when the shooting began.

According to police reports, the shootout started after the state police spotted two CJNG vehicles with armed men. The CJNG shot at the agents and caused the gunfight, authorities say.

Veracruz authorities identified a CJNG leader as the culprit of the attack: Gregorio Arenas, alias "El Wester" and/or "El Chango", who leads a cell in the area responsible for theft, homicides, extortions, and protection racketeering.

However, the children's relatives said that police officers showed up at the house and killed both of them.

Villagers also said that it was a lie that there had been a shootout in the area, and pointed out that the policemen arrived at the place where the minors were and opened fire indiscriminately.

Their deaths triggered large demonstrations across Amatlan municipality, which included road blockades in several parts of La Patrona.

"They died in a very ugly way. My son was shot three times and my nephew twice. They were not criminals," said Jonathan's mother.

"[Eduardo] was 14 years old. Jonathan, 13. They were cousins, but they looked like brothers: they went everywhere together. To eat, to study, to play soccer, to listen to music, to shop at the store… They were inseparable", her grandmother said.

Her grandmother told reporters that both of them had gone to their uncle's house to ask him if they could wash his vehicle for a few pesos.

The community where they lived is among the poorest in rural Veracruz. Formal jobs are rare, and kids oftentimes start working at a very young age. Eduardo and Jonathan were in third and second grade of middle school, respectively, and also did chores like cleaning sidewalks and washing people's cars on their spare time.

GRAPHIC IMAGES BELOW

Sources: El Universal; El Financiero; El Sol de Cordoba; Animal Politico

Photo credit: Areli R. Mosqueda (Twitter)