3 Dead, Including Gym Trainer Killed by CJNG in Celaya, Guanajuato in 24 Hours

"Itzli" for Borderland Beat

Amongst increasing violence over the past few weeks, in a span of 24 hours the municipality of Celaya, Guanajuato experienced three killings, one of which was claimed by CJNG Grupo Elite, and an attack against a female police officer. 

Warning: Graphic images below this point. 

The city of Celaya, Guanajuato and surrounding towns within the municipality have seen increasing violence, particularly in the past few weeks. 

Once a bastion of the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel (CSRL), the municipality of Celaya continues to be inhabited by its members despite waning power and efforts by Grupo Elite of the New Generation Jalisco Cartel (Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación, CJNG) to wipe out their last remnants. 

Within this context, killings have become a daily occurrence, although they generally occur without a clear idea of which side the perpetrators belong to. However, the latest 24 hours of violence includes one narco message. 

Around 7:00 PM on Sunday, February 6, 2022 police in Celaya received a call about a dead body being found in front of the Dorado market, merely a block away from the Celaya Central Bus Station. 

Upon arrival, officers found the nude body of a man with visible signs of violence inside a large trash bag. 

In the town of San Miguel Octopan, in the northeast part of the Celaya municipality, a shooting occurred at approximately 8:00 PM on Venustiano Carranza street just north of the corner with Benito Juárez street. 

Following at least ten gunshots, police officers found a young man dead and another gravely injured. It was also reported that a dog was found shot to death in the street and two other dogs bleeding from gunshot wounds. 

Violence continued the following day, Monday, February 7, 2022 to the north of Celaya proper, in the town of Tenería del Santuario. 

A female police officer, apparently a resident of Tenería, had left her family and was heading to work, driving on the main avenue of town. It was about 6:30 AM when a gray pickup truck intercepted her vehicle as she was merging onto Highway 51, connecting Celaya and Comonfort. 

Armed men aboard the pickup began shooting at her vehicle and injuring her with at least one gunshot. As she accelerated to flee, her vehicle crossed the highway and crashed into a nearby cemetery to the west, at which point her attackers fled the scene. 

Rounding out the 24 hours of violence was a shooting which occurred Magnolias shopping plaza, across from the Xochipilli recreational park in Celaya proper.

On the evening of February 7, 2022 two armed men entered the Fitness Mega Gym and began shooting in the air. As the people inside began to flee one of the instructors was shot to death and the perpetrators left a message reading:

This happened to me because I extorted and sold blue meth. Let it be clear that the only business that commands in Celaya and all Guanajuato is the CJNG and of Mr. Mencho. 

 

Sincerely 

 

CJNG Grupo Elite 

It is worth noting that CSRL members have been known to sale methamphetamines at a retail level that have a blue dye to distinguish from the white that is sold by the CJNG. 

In addition it is being reported that a woman was injured by a stray bullet as she was exercising. 

Sources: InfoRoja_Mx (1), AM (1), El Sol del Bajio, AM (2), Periódico Correo, AM (3), InfoRoja_Mx (2), AM (4)

Graphics by HEARST.