Mica for cartelinsider.com
A total of three members of the National Defense Secretariat (SEDENA) – out of the 16 who allegedly extrajudicially executed five armed civilians, presumed members of the Northeast Cartel (CDN), on May 18, 2023, after a previous confrontation on Prolongación Monterrey Avenue – between Emiliano Zapata and Lagos de Chapala streets- in the Las Encinas neighborhood, in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas – were released on Wednesday, January 24, 2024, after a Military Tribunal changed their pretrial detention, which they had as a precautionary measure.
Among the released military personnel was Lieutenant of Special Forces, José Luis Nava Martínez, who was in command of the group that participated in the events spread on social media. The three left the prison of Campo Militar 1-A, located in Mexico City.
With this new release, there were a total of 13 free elements in the military jurisdiction, with only three of the 16 detained by the Military Justice Office remaining imprisoned, accused of shooting at civilians, who had already surrendered, on May 18, 2023.
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador admitted, on June 7, 2023, that members of the National Defense Secretariat executed five armed civilians, alleged members of the Northeast Cartel, who had already surrendered, after engaging in a previous confrontation with them.
“Yes, I was informed [about the video] and action is already being taken. Apparently, there was a lynching and that cannot be allowed. We are not like previous governments. So, when there is abuse, when there is an excess, when human rights are violated, those responsible must be punished,” said the politician from Tabasco.
“And the process has already begun to deepen the investigation and the responsible parties are about to be made available to the competent authorities, all those who participated,” said the head of the Federal Executive Power, during his morning press conference, held from the Treasury Hall of the National Palace.
“It will be analyzed, but from the outset, the Secretary of Defense is recommending that action be taken for the alleged crime of extrajudicial execution. It is the [Attorney General’s Office] that will do their job, but there is no cover-up, because we do not tolerate the violation of human rights and I repeat, as strange as it may sound, we are not the same,” affirmed the national leader.
On its part, the National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) announced on June 7, 2023 that it was investigating the video in which members of the SEDENA were seen executing five armed civilians, alleged members of the CDN, who had already surrendered, following a prior confrontation.”
While the SEDENA stated, on the night of June 6, 2023, that they were collaborating with the investigations carried out by the Attorney General’s Office (FGR) regarding the video captured by a security camera, which showed how, on May 18 of that same year, Mexican Army elements extra judicially executed five armed civilians, alleged members of the Northeast Cartel, who had already surrendered after a previous confrontation.
“In November 2023, the First Judge of Control of the First Military Region revoked the pretrial detention order against 10 troop members. At the time, the military judge considered that the crime of disobedience was not established, because it was determined that the soldiers retaliated against an attack from armed civilians, presumed members of the Northeast Cartel.”
The three soldiers released on January 24, 2024, filed for an injunction in order to carry out their criminal proceedings in freedom for the crime of disobedience. However, the military judge ordered the periodic presentation of the soldiers, for the signing of the book of defendants, in the military courts of Campo Militar 1-A.
However, despite the fact that the Military Justice Office appealed the decision of the military judge, it was ratified by a Military Court, which ordered the release of the three soldiers, who would continue to be active in the Armed Forces.
On May 18, 2023, the commander of the involved military reported that the armed civilians died when their accomplices tried to rescue them. However, in the recording released by the Spanish newspaper El País, the magazine Proceso, and Univisión channel, it can be seen that the individuals were subdued, placed against a wall, and then shot in the back of the Smart shopping center, Zapata branch.
In his ministerial statement, infantry lieutenant José Luis Nava Martínez, in charge of the operation, stated that when they were inspecting the van of the armed men, they were attacked by members of the organized crime, who supposedly intended to rescue their companions.
“The commander of the soldiers also indicated that the detained individuals attempted to recover their weapons and died, without specifying in their ministerial statement how they died. There was also no official information regarding the incident.”
In the video, it can be seen how, at 2:36 pm on May 18, 2023, a black pick up truck is driving at high speed on Prolongación Monterrey avenue. Then, it jumps over the median in a curve. It almost collides with another vehicle going in the opposite direction. Finally, it crashes head-on into a concrete perimeter fence of a commercial establishment, on a vacant lot covered in weeds.
Afterwards, it is observed that a unit of the Mexican Army, number 0916347, arrives at the scene, from which several soldiers descend outside the frame, aiming their assault rifles at the impacted van. Then, another unit of the Mexican Army, the 0916579, a type Plasan Sand Cat, intentionally collides with the van on the right side.
The image cuts out for a few seconds and then it is observed how more than 10 soldiers get out of the pick-up truck and extract several long weapons from it. Then they put the five detainees, kneeling and facing the wall.
In the video -which is part of the investigation of the events- it is explained that while these events were taking place, another shootout was happening three blocks away. It is also indicated that the soldiers allegedly took advantage of the noise from the other confrontation to shoot at the detainees.
In the recording, it can be seen that several soldiers use their weapons against the subdued men, without the victims being visible. However, the video explains that most of them were killed. Nevertheless, one rolls wounded with a bandage on his head, trying to escape, but is also executed.
A soldier who shot at the detainees picks up a red rag and uses it to hold two long weapons to plant them, without leaving his fingerprints, next to the bodies of the murdered men, with the purpose of simulating a confrontation.
The video cuts off at 3:53 PM on May 18, 2023, over an hour later, when paramedics assist a supposed injured person who was taken to the General Hospital in the border town with the United States, where they arrived without vital signs.
At 4:28 pm on May 18, 2023, it is seen that one of the soldiers removes the handcuffs from one of the executed civilians. Then it is seen that the military gather together and shoot into the undergrowth and the street, with the purpose of simulating a confrontation.
Residents of Los Encinos neighborhood and workers from nearby businesses reported that they were at risk due to the hundreds of shots fired by the military. It wasn’t until 18:18 on May 18, 2023, that the Federal Public Ministry (MPF), from the Attorney General’s Office (FGR), arrived.
According to reports in the same video, the deceased civilians were identified as José Ángel, 27 years old; José Antonio, 32; Edgar Chavarría, 38; José Isabel, 23; and Clinton Alex, 25.
In the Approved Police Report (IPH) from the National Public Safety Council, dated May 18th, 2023, when the events occurred, Lieutenant Nava Martinez explained that at the time of the incident, three reconnaissance units were involved, with a total of 17 personnel.
The commander indicated that when they detected the truck, which in the report is described as a Chevrolet pick up, model Cheyenne, gray color, the driver accelerated, lost control and crashed into the containment wall of the Smart store, Zapata branch.
According to the infantry lieutenant’s account, as they approached, the soldiers identified themselves as members of the Mexican Army and asked the occupants of the armored truck to step out of the vehicle with their hands visible.
According to Nava Martinez, the soldiers noticed that the civilians were armed and carrying various military-style tactical equipment, with insignias of CDN. In addition, one of the individuals had a head injury as a result of the collision. It was at that moment that the alleged attack against the SEDENA elements occurred.
“They were receiving first aid medical care when the staff at my operating base were attacked with firearms by members of organized crime in an attempt to rescue the personnel we had in the area,” said the infantry lieutenant.
According to the commander, during the exchange of shots, the detainees died, as they allegedly attempted to take their weapons and escape. “At that moment, we proceeded to repel the aggression and look for cover as the shots were coming from all directions, even from the bushes we had nearby at the back of the store. We instructed the civilian personnel we had inspected to take cover and lie on the ground,” Nava Martínez narrated.
“Ignoring them and attempting to pick up their weapons and escape the scene. One civilian was covered with a bandage and was being pushed towards the back of the aforementioned store. After repelling the attack and stopping the gunshots, we went to check on the civilians we had initially been inspecting and realized that four of them were not showing signs of life and one was in critical condition,” added the infantry lieutenant.
According to the ministerial declaration, Lieutenant Jesús Alberto Navarro Hernández assisted the injured civilian and called the emergency number 911 for an ambulance to transport him. In addition, Nava Martínez pointed out that Second Infantry Sergeant Ángel Mario Herrera Aguilar was injured in the face by shrapnel from machine gun impacts on the chest of a unit.
The sergeant was treated and taken to a hospital. There were also damages to two vehicles of the Mexican Army. According to the same military commander’s account, Cesar Martinez, the operational chief of the Municipal Fire and Civil Protection, arrived at the scene at 3:45 PM, along with three members who took the injured civilian to the hospital.
Nava Martínez also stated that during the inspection after the shootout, two abandoned vehicles were found, a white Cheyenne truck and a Raptor truck, both armored, which were supposedly used in an attempt to rescue the alleged members of the Northeast Cartel.
According to the mentioned report, long weapons, a .50 caliber Barret rifle, loaded magazines, as well as a suitcase with plastic containers containing material similar to crystal meth were found in said vehicles.
The Federal Public Ministry agent, Moses Cortázar Sánchez, received the delivery of the seized vehicles, which were transferred to the 16th Motorized Cavalry Regiment in Nuevo Laredo.
Thanks for reading!
Mica
Email: mica@cartelinsider.com
Follow: https://twitter.com/cartelinsider1
Discover more from Cartel Insider
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
