Saturday, October 8, 2011

Violence Arrived in Acuna

October 4, 2011
Four Injured - Gun Battle in Acuña near one of our School Cafeterias

Since 2006, the media hammered the border with stories that implied every border-city was filled with murders. The media destroyed the tourist industry in Acuna long before a state police commander, allegedly involved with a cartel, was murdered in May of 2010. Since that murder, we’ve not seen violence in Acuña until today.

At least four people, including two women, were injured Tuesday in a shootout between gunmen and Mexican authorities in Evaristo Perez colonia in Ciudad Acuña.

The confrontation began shortly before noon today when a convoy of troops and state police encountered a Dodge Durango with armed cartel gunmen. Authorities chased the Durango through the streets and a gunfight ensued. The chase ended near the Maria Braulia Garcia Primary School, one of the schools where we feed children at our cafeteria.

None of the students at the school were injured.

At least four people were injured, including two women that were struck in the legs by bullets.

The newspaper Zocalo identified the four victims as: Graciela Moreno Rosales, 30; Veronica Herrera, 32; Andres Orenelas Lozano, 41; and Carlos Ledesma Carrillo, 29.

Acuña residents, who didn't want to be identified, said that confrontations between the authorities and the Zeta cartel will probably continue. Mexican marines have been deployed in Acuña during the past three weeks.

This is the third week that the Mexican Marines have manned checkpoints and conducted vehicle inspections at the entrance and exit at the International Bridge and at every highway into and out of Acuña. Last week a gun-smuggler was apprehended entering Acuña and automatic weapons were confiscated.

Paper Houses continues to walk the streets, visit the schools and meet with the families of the poor in Acuña. Although we’ve curtailed mission trips, we’ve increased the number of times we will walk the streets of the poor.

The poor in the colonias need us, especially now. As the world continues in an economic slump and as the people in Acuña are living and working in midst of this violence, we know that this is the time when we must step up. Church-led mission groups and charities are likely to focus their resources to help other places. We are needed.

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