Three Women, Including Off-Duty Police Officer, Fatally Shot in Front of Celaya Car Shop

"Morogris" for Borderland Beat

Police investigate the crime scene after Fernanda, Aracely, and Fátima (the policewomen) were killed (image credit: Periódico AM)

On Thursday, three women, including an off-duty municipal police officer, were engaged in conversation outside an car shop in Celaya city when a group of unidentified gunmen open fire at them, killing them all.

One of the victims, named Fátima, was an active member of the Celaya Municipal Police, leading to suspicions that this murder could be part of the ongoing series of attacks against police officers launched by criminal groups in the city. One of the other victims was cited as being a former member of the municipal police but she reportedly left the force a year ago.

Multiple witnesses and individuals from nearby businesses promptly dialed 911 to report the incident, but by the time the officer's colleagues and emergency personnel arrived at the location, they confirmed that none of the victims had survived the brutal criminal attack.

As reported by Borderland Beat, over 40 police officers have been killed in Guanajuato this year, making it the most dangerous state for police officers in Mexico. This trend has been ongoing in Guanajuato for several years. Statistics from 2021 show that one out of every five cop killings in Mexico is carried out in Guanajuato. In Celaya this year, 15 cops have been killed.

One of the women who was killed in yesterday's attack (image credit: Periódico AM)

Starting from 2018, Guanajuato has witnessed a surge in violence, making it the most turbulent state in Mexico. This escalation can be attributed to a fierce conflict involving two prominent criminal factions: the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel (CSRL) and their rivals, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), along with their respective allies.

The main drivers of this conflict are the contested control over the lucrative Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) pipelines in the region, an expanding market for synthetic drug consumption, and the desire to dominate trafficking routes.

Celaya in particular often ranks among the most dangerous cities in the world, according to international organizations.

Sources: El Imparcial; La Silla Rota; AM; Borderland Beat archives