Posted on 06/11/2005 2:12:29 PM PDT by SwinneySwitch
NUEVO LAREDO - The mayor of this Mexican border town said Friday he does not believe that the murder of the city's police chief was the work of three known criminal groups here.
Nuevo Laredo Mayor Daniel Peña Treviño, speaking to reporters at a new briefing at City Hall, said the shooting death of Alejandro Dominguez Coello, 52, probably was a case of mistaken identity.
Dominguez Coello was gunned down Wednesday evening after he boarded his pickup truck on Obregon Avenue in front of his place of business. He had just returned from a visit to City Hall where seven hours earlier he had been named police chief.
Peña Treviño said law enforcement does not have any suspects. He did not identify any of the three organized groups which he claims operate in Nuevo Laredo.
The mayor said the evidence at the scene of the shooting suggest 223-caliber weapons were used. He said this type of assault rifle is used by local police, not criminals.
While it could have been a case of mistaken identity, Peña Treviño said the crminal elements "were sending a message that they did not want him to be the police chief."
The mayor said that several men came to City Hall to express interest in the police chief's job. He did not name the individuals, other than to say that some were local and others were from out of the city. The mayor said the jobseekers called the mayor's office and informed of police experience.
Peña Treviño said the matter would be part of the agenda for the next City Council meeting.
Dominguez Coello, who was serving a second term as president of the Nuevo Laredo Chamber of Commerce, was well-known in the business community on both sides. He owned and operated a freight forwarding business here and in Laredo, Texas, and maintained residency in Laredo and Nuevo Laredo.
The mayor said he lamented the death of "my good friend" Alejandro Dominguez Coello, adding that he, Trevino Peña, had never heard of any threats on his friend's life.
Peña Treviño expressed criticism of law enforcement on all levels in the current campaign against organized crime on the border.
"We can't deny that this despicable act has blocked good intentions to bring peace and tranquility to our community," the mayor said. "We wish there were no killings, no robberies, no kidnappings. We all want peace and quiet and safety for all (of) our residents."
Peña Treviño said he was disturbed by reports that the federal authorities have no suspects in the Dominguez Coello murder, adding that he does think "any one of three known criminal groups is responsible for the Dominguez Coello killing."
"It could have been a case of mistaken identity, but we also interpret this as a clear message that they did not want him to be the police chief."
The mayor also was critical of the Attorney General's office and the Ministerial Police for not taking a tougher stance against the criminal elements on the border and Nuevo Laredo.
"We have had 65 homicides and only one case, that of a woman involved in the death of her two minor children, has been cleared," Peña Treviño said. "That is raw impunity. No suspect is arrested, no suspect is held for investigation of a crime. It seems anyone can commit a crime, kill someone and get away with it."
Peña Treviño reportedly traveled to Ciudad Victoria on Friday after the DominguezCoello funeral services. He was scheduled to confer with the Tamaulipas state governor, Eugenio Hernanez Flores, and to ask for assistance in dealing with border terrorism, impunity and crime wave.
The mayor said more than 700 federal officers have been sent to Nuevo Laredo in recent months. Peña Treviño, however, said "people want to see some results, to see some arrests of these organized criminals."
"People want to see some strategic action, not just federal officers parading in vehicles about the streets of Nuevo Laredo," he said. "We expect local, state and federal law enforcement to work in unison to demonstrate that there is interest in putting an end to this crime wave."
Pena Trevino acknowledged that he fears for his life and the safety of his family. Nevertheless, he said he holds firm for action against organized crime.
The mayor joined DominguezCoello's friends, business associates and immediate family at a wake here. DominguezCoello family members avoided reporters and photographers. Two sons, however, agreed to talk to reporters on condition that they not be identified.
One son confirmed earlier reports that the family had opposed DominguezCoello's accepting the job of police chief. The son said his father felt that he could help Nuevo Laredo overcome the situation.
Family members also confirmed a San Antonio business associate's caution to DominguezCoello about accepting the job. The business associate confirmed that he told DominguezCoello that taking the job was tantamount to a death warrant and that he, Dominguez Coello, purchased a bulletproof vest from the San Antonio firm.
(Miguel Timoshenkov may be reached at (956) 728 2583 or timo1@lmtonline.com)
(Odie Arambula translated and contributed to this article. He can be reached at (956) 728-2561 or odie@lmtonline.com.)
What has he been smoking?
and in other news,
the sun rose this morning in the west...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1420911/posts
America's Most Dangerous Gang
Sounds like somebody in town don't want any law and order south of the border.
NL Mayor ping!
Please FReepmail me if you want on or off this South Texas/Mexico ping list.
ping
Mistaken identity?
Yeah, they probably thought he was an honest man.
While it could have been a case of mistaken identity, Peña Treviño said the crminal elements "were sending a message that they did not want him to be the police chief."
I wonder if this guy has any idea what kind of idiot he is making himself out to be...
He's saying the shooting was done by criminal elements using police-style weapons.
Or is he somehow admitting the local police are criminals?
Nope. No way drug dealers would have an interest in sending a message to the corrupt MLE that this was not the right guy to suite their purpose. No way that could be it. Must'a been a gang of Orkin Men. Yea. That's it. Oh. There is one now!
< /idt >
He's saying, "I am not going to fight the cartels!"
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