A former local official was killed Thursday morning by two individuals after leaving one of his children at a kindergarten school, according to media reports.
Felipe Salazar Ruiz, a lawyer who worked during the first months of the Jaime Díaz’s administration in the police legal counsel office, was shot to dead at 9 a.m. at Lerdo Street and D Street at Colonia Nueva subdivision, close to the Autonomous University of Baja California Dean’s office.
The victim was shot by two unknown individuals.
Salazar’s body was found by the police next to a gray Ford F-150 truck.
The suspects fled from the scene on a golden Ford Fusion.
Salazar worked under Mexicali police chief General José Ramírez, a military who resigned after a lawsuit was made public.
The victim was removed from office for failing the law enforcement officer examinations.
Train derails in rural area
A train loaded with cement derailed Wednesday afternoon in rural Mexicali, said the Municipal Public Safety Department.
Authorities said the derailment was reported at 3:30 p.m. by state Highway 39, between Ejido Estación Pescaderos and Ejido Oaxaca rural towns.
The police said the train was driven by a 57-year-old man whose name was not made public.
In total, 19 cars of the Ferromex train were derailed, causing damages to about 150 yards of train tracks.
Man arrested for double homicide
A 42-year-old man was arrested Wednesday by state police officers for his alleged involvement in a double homicide reported in 2015, said the Attorney General’s office.
Authorities said Juan Fernando “Doe,” of the Mexican state of Michoacán, was apprehended by Ministerial police agents at Manzanilla Avenue at Colonia El Robledo neighborhood.
The agency said the suspect has been linked to the murders of Benjamín Rodríguez Gallardo, 69 and María Elena Grijalva Valladolid, 66.
The victims were found by relatives on Nov. 10, 2015 at their Colonia Abasolo neighborhood residence.
Authorities said the victims had wounds on the head and face.
The agency said detectives found that the suspect was with the victims the day of the murder when suddenly the arrested man hit the senior citizens, who succumbed to the injuries.
After the murder, the suspect allegedly took the victims’ clothes, cell phones, jewelry and cash, and fled the scene on the victims’ 2006 Toyota vehicle.
The suspect was found by police officers while walking on the street.
The agency said the suspect attempted to flee after observing the patrol cars.
The suspect was booked in Mexicali Jail.
Rumorosa highway toll increased
The La Rumorosa road toll price was increased 3.36 percent since Wednesday, a state official said.
Centinela-Rumorosa Highway Trust General Manager Rodolfo Valdez said the increase was based on the inflation rate set by Mexico’s National Institute of Statistics and Geography, known in Spanish as INEGI.
The price for automobiles climbed from 23 to 24 pesos and big rigs will pay 177 pesos, or around $10, he said.
The new price includes sales tax.
Valdez said the increase will allow the public company to cover road maintenance and services for drivers.
Children’s festival announced
A free of cost children festival was announced by the Baja California’s Cultural Arts Institute.
The festival to celebrate Día del Niño has been scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. at Mexicali Cultural Arts Center located by New River Boulevard.
An art exhibit of Marvel superheroes by artist Susana Lizbeth López opens at 11 a.m.
At noon three different theatrical acts will be held simultaneously.
The acts will be held again an hour later.
The institute said at 2 pm the concert by musician Alberto Oblea titled “A Superhero at Home” will be held at Auka concert hall.
The event includes artistic activities and seminars for children in which kids will be able to produce masks and other items.
All activities are free of cost, the institute said.
