Judge Declares Arrest of Five Alleged Assailants of State Agents Legal

Those accused of the ambush that left one agent dead face charges of murder, attempted murder, and possession of a stolen vehicle

A judge declared legal the arrest of five individuals suspected of carrying out the armed attack against drone operators from the State Public Security Secretariat (SSPE), in which one officer was killed and two others were injured, in events that occurred last Thursday, January 8, in Ciudad Juárez.

The defendants, identified as Francisco M. F. C., Martín A. R. A., Gerardo C. A., Cristian J. H. L., and Pedro M. M. A., were presented this Sunday at an initial hearing, where they were informed that they will face charges of homicide, attempted homicide, and possession of a stolen vehicle, in addition to other charges related to the severity of the crimes.

During the proceedings, the judge determined that the arrest was carried out in accordance with the law and indicated that the imposition of precautionary measures will be decided at a later hearing, while the criminal process continues.

According to the account of events, the attack occurred unexpectedly when the state agents were refueling at a gas station located at the intersection of Adolfo López Mateos and Simona Barba avenues. While one of the officers went to the restroom, a black or dark gray pickup truck surrounded them, and the armed attack began from there.

At the time of their arrest, the defendants were traveling in a black or dark gray GMC Sierra pickup truck with Colorado license plates, which had a broken rear window and a current stolen vehicle report.

Authorities were able to intervene after a panic button was activated, allowing for an immediate and coordinated response to neutralize the attack and apprehend the suspected perpetrators.

In addition to the state crimes, the Prosecutor’s Office reported that the detainees are also being investigated for violations of the Federal Firearms Law, as three high-powered weapons and ammunition were seized from the vehicle.

During the hearing, it was specified that Francisco M. F. C. allegedly didn’t participate directly in the attack, although he was reportedly providing support for the escape, waiting at another location in a white Malibu vehicle. The defense requested the application of the Istanbul Protocol, given that the defendants showed visible injuries, in order to determine whether torture or excessive force was used during their arrest.

The case remains under judicial supervision, and the five detainees will remain in custody while the next stage of the proceedings unfolds. Only the mother of one of the alleged perpetrators of this armed attack was present at the initial hearing.

Sources: El Heraldo de Chihuahua, La Polaka, Cartel Insider Archives