2 dead, citizens panicked after armed convoy rolls into town

Residents of a neighborhood in Agua Prieta, Sonora, awoke in panic early Monday morning when a convoy of armed civilians opened fire in the streets, leaving two dead and one injured.

Two houses in the city across the border from Douglas, Arizona, were left riddled with bullet holes and two vehicles were burned.

Frightened residents documented the event on social media, relating it to the recent confrontation between security forces and the Sinaloa Cartel in Cuilacán.

“We fell asleep in Agua Prieta and woke up in Culiacán,” read one post. “Culiacán style,” read another.

Mayor Jesús Alfonso Montaño Durazo notified the public via his Facebook page that he was monitoring the situation closely.

“Right now the city is being patrolled in a joint operation and all is calm. However, there could still be unpredictable risks,” he said.

“Considering that the activities are happening regularly, caution is recommended and I leave it up to parents’ judgement to decide their families’ activities and whether or not they want to send their kids to school.”

Authorities across the border in Douglas notified residents of “sustained automatic gunfire” in Agua Prieta, but said there was no threat to Douglas or Cochise County at the time. The sheriff warned against traveling to Mexico.

“Residents are cautioned to avoid unnecessary travel to Mexico at this time,” said the Douglas police department in a statement.

The travel warning was issued on the same day as news broke that an attack on a Mormon family living in Mexico left three adults and six children dead.

State and federal forces were dispatched to Agua Prieta to provide reinforcements and strengthen public security in the area.

Sources: El Universal (sp), ABC News (en)

Have something to say? Paid Subscribers get all access to make & read comments.
senate chambers

Mexican Senate passes bill to limit, and sometimes prohibit, cash payments

5
The Digital Economy Law for Digital and Electronic Payments could conceivably become law this week, though it will probably take some time to iron out details. Gas stations and toll booths will likely be the first to stop accepting cash.
rhinos welcome in GDL

4 white rhinos from France and Germany find a home in Guadalajara

0
The three females and one male bring genetic diversity to Mexico's rhino population, but flying several tonnes of horned beasts on a cargo plane for 12 hours was no easy task.
Beach scene in Puerto Vallarta.

MND Local Puerto Vallarta: Hurricanes keep coming, golf course disruption, free drinking water fountains

0
From illegal construction and controversial golf course tree culling to new drinking fountains and yet more hurricane impacts, life in Puerto Vallarta has not been dull lately, writes Debbie Slobe.
BETA Version - Powered by Perplexity