Posted on 09/14/2004 9:25:41 PM PDT by FITZ
MEXICO CITY – The brother of the former leader of a powerful Mexican drug-trafficking organization was shot to death by gunmen in the northwest state of Sinaloa, the state attorney general's office confirmed.
Rodolfo Carrillo Fuentes, the brother of drug boss Amado Carrillo Fuentes, was killed by a team of assassins on Saturday afternoon at a movie theater complex in Culiacan, 640 miles northwest of Mexico City, Elisa Perez, press officer for the Sinaloa attorney general's office, said on Sunday.
Amado, who once directed the Juarez cartel, died after a botched plastic surgery operation in July 1997.
It was unclear if gunmen on Saturday had targeted Rodolfo or former Sinaloa state police commander Pedro Perez Lopez, who was with Rodolfo and was wounded in the attack.
Perez Lopez, who was listed in stable condition Sunday, was suspended in 2001 from the state police to avoid further bloodshed after two attempts on his life the same year left five people dead and more injured, Perez said. He was placed under arrest for questioning at a hospital where he still was recuperating on Sunday.
Rodolfo's wife, Joana Castelo, 30, and a parking attendant also were killed in the attack at the theater complex, a short from the state capitol, authorities said.
As the attackers fled in at least two vehicles, state and local police gave chase. Five of the assailants were killed in two standoffs, while two were injured and taken into custody, according to the attorney general's office.
Authorities seized two vehicles – one armored to resist bullets – and confiscated several assault rifles, a grenade and nine bullet-resistant vests.
No surprise here --- Mexican police commander wounded along with his drugpin companion in a drug lord shoot-out.
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