For the very first time in history Mexicali recorded over 300 homicides last year, according to state reports
For the very first time the city of Mexicali went above the 300 homicides threshold.
According to State Attorney General’s office reports the city recorded 304 homicides in 2022.
State Attorney General Ricardo Ivan Carpio said the large number of assassinations was caused by a territorial fight between two groups within the Sinaloa Cartel.
In 2020, the city recorded 206 homicides and 288 the next year.
April was the bloodiest month in Baja California’s capital city with 41 cases.
Attorney General Carpio blamed the issue on the legalization of marijuana in the US, which led criminal bands to incur into new criminal activities.
Just in the third week of December seven people were murdered in the Colonia Esperanza area apparently caused by band rivalry.
Although Baja California Governor Marina Avila recently reported a decrease of homicides last year compared to 2021, the state official decided to remove her former Secretary of Public Safety — a decision that has had mixed reactions from politicians and the business community.
However, all other crimes have reported an increase.
Man sentenced for Sept. 2021 homicide
A judge sentenced a man to 25 years in prison for a September 2021 homicide reported in the Colonia Nacionalista area.
The state Attorney General’s office said Eduardo Israel Ambriz Gomez, no age reported, was sentenced after the defense attorney and prosecutors reached an agreement.
According to the agency the convicted man was condemned for the Sept, 17, 2021 murder of Jesus Itzair “N.”
The authorities said the victim was at his residence when the suspects arrived and shot at Jesús Itzair with a 9 mm caliber firearm.
The victim was injured in the chest and succumbed to the injuries, the authorities said.
Police officers arrested the suspect while attempting to flee by Lázaro Cardenas Boulevard in the Colonia San Jacinto area on a white and red Honda 250 motorcycle.
The then suspect was apprehended in possession of the firearm used in the murder.
According to the authorities the sentence hearing was held Dec. 29.
The judge also ruled Ambriz Gomez must pay close to half a million pesos or about $26,052 USD in restitution to victim relatives.
Sexual abuse suspect indicted
A man was sentenced by a state judge to 17 years in prison for a Feb. 2020 sexual abuse case, the State Attorney General’s office said.
The judge sentenced Rafael Guillén Uribe for the sexual abuse case of a 12-year-old minor occurred in Valentine’s Day of 2020.
The incident took place at the suspect’s home located in the Ejido Veracruz 1 rural town, the agency said.
According to the authorities, the sexual abuse took place several times, with the last reported on April 2020.
Then, the convicted man took the victim to his home to commit sexual abuse.
The victim eventually told family members about the series of incidents.
Murder suspect indicted
A man was indicted by a state judge for the Aug. 2022 murder of another individual in rural Mexicali.
The state Attorney General’s office said the judge indicted Mauricio “N,” 30, for the Aug. 3 homicide of Alejandro “N.”
The incident took place in the Ejido Tlaxcala rural town.
According to the agency the suspect shot at the victim in the head while in an empty lot.
Detectives found that the suspect allegedly was the person who shot at the victim.
The judge issued the arrest warrant weeks after the homicide.
State police officers apprehended Mauricio last week.
The judge decided to keep the suspect in prison during trial and gave prosecutors three months to finish the investigation.
Reward issued for fugitive teacher
The Baja California State Attorney General’s Office is offering a reward of half a million pesos of about $26315 USD for information leading to the arrest of a Leona Vicario Elementary School teacher accused of alleged sexual abuse of students.
Authorities are looking for Ricardo Roberto Acuña Angles, 46, after being accused by at least around a dozen parents.
The suspect has an arrest warrant for investigations that are being followed for the probable commission of the crime of aggravated pedophilia, the agency said.
To whoever provides relevant information that allows the location and capture of him, the State Attorney General’s Office will grant protection mechanisms and identity confidentiality, the agency said.
Acuña Angles has a robust complexion, round face, light brown complexion, black hair, a gray beard, a wide forehead and receding hairline. As a particular sign he has a button tattoo on his right arm, the Attorney General’s office said.
Information can be provided to the State Attorney General’s Office headquarters or offices.
The teacher was able to flee due to school staff failing to report issues to the police.
State under alert
The arrest days ago of Chapo Guzman’s son Ovidio has raised alerts in Baja California.
Governor Marina Avila said the public safety board met after the arrest to address any potential issues in the state.
According to the governor the authorities decided to reinforce law enforcement activities. That included a new checkpoint on the Tijuana Highway.
The governor said communication has been constant with Sinaloa authorities to prevent any violent incidents.
State Attorney General Ricardo Ivan Carpio said Ovidio Guzman Lopez has no arrest warrant in Baja California.
However, the attorney general said groups related to Guzman’s criminal band have held fights in Baja California.
Carpio explained every group related to the Sinaloa Cartel operates individually and provides support to each other.
Mexicali Police Chief Pedro Ariel Mendívil said although no attacks are expected from Guzman-linked groups the authorities are under alert.
Te puede interesar: Car theft increases 30 percent
