2010 Chihuahua shootings explained

2010 Chihuahua shootings
Location:Second floor,
Templo Cristiano Fe y Vida (Christian Faith and Life Temple),
Chihuahua,
Mexico
Type:Mass shooting
Fatalities:19
Injuries:4
Perps:At least 30 gunmen

On June 10, 2010, at least 19 people were killed in the Mexican state of Chihuahua in shooting attacks due to an ongoing drug war.[1] The attack was on a drug rehabilitation clinic in the state capital Chihuahua. Four other people were wounded.[2]

Shootings

At least 30 gunmen pulled up in six trucks and entered the second floor of the Templo Cristiano Fe y Vida (Christian Faith and Life Temple).[2] They told anyone who asked that they were from the police before proceeding to fire at people they encountered, including staff and patients.[2] The victims were lined up and then executed by the gunmen. The murdered patients were between the ages of 18 and 25.

Perpetrators and motive

The perpetrators fled on foot.[2] They are unknown, but are thought to be members of a cartel in search of revenge.[3]

According to a Chihuahuan police spokesman, the attackers described those whom they attacked as "criminals" and left messages for them expressing this.[2]

Response

President of Mexico Felipe Calderón issued his condemnation from South Africa, where he was attending the Mexico national football team's opening game of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He described such attacks as "outrageous acts that reinforce the need to fight with the full force of the law criminal groups carrying out such barbarism".[4]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 39 killed in Mexico shooting attacks as drug war rages on – Yahoo! News . News.yahoo.com . 2010-06-12.
  2. News: Many dead as gunmen target Mexico cities. 11 June 2010. BBC News. BBC. 11 June 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100611184642/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/latin_america/10296352.stm. 11 June 2010 . live.
  3. News: Shooting hits Mexico drug clinic. 11 June 2010. Aljazeera. 11 June 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100611184707/http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2010/06/201061114221787507.html. 11 June 2010 . live.
  4. News: 19 killed in Mexican drug rehab centre. 11 June 2010. Toronto Sun. 11 June 2010.