One-Year-Old Girl Killed During Cartel Shooting in Sonora

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A one-year-old girl was killed during a cartel shooting in the city of Obregón, Sonora, where the Sinaloa Cartel’s faction Los Chapitos and the Caborca Cartel are currently warring for territory.

The Shooting

On February 5, 2023, cartel hitmen layed in wait and watched a red Mazda vehicle that was driving on Rodolfo Félix Valdés Street in the Faustino Félix neighborhood of Obregón.

Inside the Mazda sat four individuals: two men, one woman, and one child named Ingrid Miosoty Berrelleza Miranda, who was one and a half years old. 

The State Attorney General’s Office (FGE) later revealed that one of the two men, who they referred to as Juan ‘N’, was involved in cartel drug sales. 

Sonora Informativo writes that the other man in the vehicle was Juan’s friend, 30-year-old Edgar ‘N’. The woman, reportedly Juan’s girlfriend, was sitting in the car with her young niece, Ingrid. 

At around 7:00 pm, the hitmen drove up to the red Mazda as it neared the intersection of Ramón Guzmán Street and began shooting at the Mazda. All of the four people inside were hit by the gunfire. 

Opinion Sonora writes that one of the male victims “got out of the vehicle, attempting to distract the criminals,” giving the driver of the Mazda a chance to speed away.

The Mazda managed to turn onto Ramón Guzmán Street, making it about 100 meters before stopping at the intersection with Juan Escutia Street. The woman, with Ingrid clutched in her arms, opened the vehicle door and ran inside the closest building, a hot dog store. 

The Grim End

Municipal police officers and EMTs arrived on scene shortly after. They found Juan N. lying dead on Ramón Guzmán Street. 

Officers then found Edgar, Ingrid, and her aunt severely injured, each suffering from gunshot wounds. They were rushed to a hospital for medical treatment. Edgar reportedly died minutes after being admitted. The woman had multiple gunshot wounds that were described as serious, but she is expected to survive. 

Ingrid had a bullet wound to her side and was suffering from serious blood loss. She was quickly sent to surgery. Calls for blood donations for Ingrid were put out on social media, however, at approximately 2:00 am that night, Ingrid died from the gunshot. 

The FGE put out a statement, saying “It is unacceptable that people associated with violence and criminal activity put the lives and safety of the most vulnerable at risk. The Sonora Prosecutor's Office will continue with the investigation, arrest those responsible and seek the greatest punishment against them for having killed a child.”

A wake was held for Ingrid Miosoty Berrelleza Miranda at San Martín funeral home.

Ingrid’s favorite stuffed animal, a pink unicorn, was laid atop her coffin, surrounded by large floral wreaths and pastel pink balloons. 

Memorial gifts of a stuffed animal duck and lion, along with a Minnie Mouse balloon, stood as grim reminders that Ingrid had not even reached the age of two. Her father, Omar Berrelleza, reportedly clung to her small white coffin during the wake. 

Ingrid was buried during the afternoon of February 7, 2023, at the cemetery of Nuestra Señora del Carmen church.

Who Was Behind the Attack? 

The local newspaper Tribuna alleges that the cartel-associated target of the attack, who the FGE called “Juan N.”, was a man named Juan Humberto L. B. 

It is currently unclear which cartel group Juan Humberto L. B. worked for, although more information may emerge in the coming days. 

The primary groups thought to be operating in the area of Obregon are the a Sinaloa Cartel group from the Chapitos faction, headed by Óscar Gabriel Martínez Larios, alias “El Gabito”, and a Caborca Cartel group called Los Alfas. This group is led by Fernando Salmerón Peréz, aliases “El Nando”.

For more information on the operators in Obregon, please see this beginner's guide to southern Sonora. 

The man accompanying Juan Humberto, “Edgar N.”, appears to have been named Edgar Velazquez according to memorial posts on social media. 

The Facebook group Sonora Informativo claims that Ingrid was the granddaughter of the local municipal police commander. 

The last name of the Cajeme police chief does not appear to match Ingrid's although they may be referring to another police figure. 

As of the writing of this story, the only source claiming this familial connection is Sonora Informativo.

If their claim is true, there may be a link between the police commander and whatever cartel group Juan Humberto L. B. was affiliated with.

Sources: Sonora Public Security's Official Statement, FGE’s Statement, Tribuna, Radar Sonora Article 1, Article 2, Opinion Sonora, Meganoticias, Cajeme News, Sonora Informativo, Media Obson Post 1. Post 2, Post 3, Post 4, Post 5