- version 1.0 - a quick rough test/prototype -
The Cantaflas Kid (sombrero "shrinkage")
Posted on 02/07/2006 7:47:22 AM PST by SwinneySwitch
NUEVO LAREDO - Several masked men armed with machine guns stormed the newsroom at El Mañana on Monday night, injuring two reporters before they made good their escape.
No one was killed.
Earlier in the day, there were two people found dead in separate incidents as the violence continues to mount in this border city. At least one was a homicide, pushing the death toll to 25 so far this year.
It was the attack on the newspaper that created a furor Monday night.
The journalists refused to be cowed and went back to work.
"We're going to make a newspaper. We're reporters," said Rene Martinez of La Tarde, El Maña-na's afternoon sister paper, which has offices in the same building. "We don't carry guns or grenades, we're just going to do our job.
"We have to live, we have to work. We don't know another way of living."
It started at about 7:50 p.m., near deadline, three and possibly more gunmen entered through the main doors of the two-story El Mañana building in downtown Nuevo Laredo.
Mariano Almanza Arrieta, the A-section editor at El Mañana, said it appeared the men may have opened fire as they first came into the building, then moved toward editorial.
When they reached editorial, Almanza Arrieta said, the men opened fire again, raking the newsroom with their cuernos de chivo and tossing a hand grenade into the room. The men were yelling obscenities, threatening those in the room but no one in particular.
Windows shattered as the estimated 30 people on duty scrambled for cover.
Jaime Orozco Tey, a nightside reporter with more than 10 years of experience, was shot four or five times in the shoulder and back and was taken to a local hospital, where he was listed in serious condition Monday night.
Another reporter, Osvaldo Rodriguez, was injured by flying glass and possible shrapnel from the grenade, officials said. Rodriguez was treated by paramedics at the scene.
Local, state and federal police as well as soldiers descended on the newspaper offices, securing the area and gathering evidence.
Ramon Dario Cantú, executive editor of El Mañana, said he had no doubts about who sent the gunmen.
"What's the point of investigating? We know it was an assault by drug traffickers," Cantú said.
The gunmen ran out and left in at least two different vehicles. No arrests were made Monday night.
In the other cases, one man was found dead Monday afternoon with several gunshot founds to the head and body and signs of torture in a ditch in Ejido la Unión, north of the airport. His hands and feet were tied, and his face was covered with a green rag.
At the scene, investigators found five spend .40-caliber shells.
The victim, believed to be between 20 and 25 years old, had not been identified as of late Monday night.
Ricardo Mancillas Castillo of the state police ordered that the body be taken to a local funeral home for autopsy.
Several hours before that, at about 1 p.m., police found the body of a second man, who showed signed of a beating. Investigators said, however, the cause of death was unclear and stopped short of calling it a homicide, pending the results of the autopsy required by law.
Cuauhtémoc Cuin Vázquez, 40, was found dead in his house in the 4600 block of Baja California; family members said he was related to a high-ranking state police official.
"I cannot determine if death was caused by violence or not," Mancillas Castillo said. "We are waiting for the results of the medical examiner, who will conduct the legally mandated autopsy and who will determine whether the blows were caused by an object or accident."
Family members would not allow more than one officer per agency into their home, except for the forensics team members.
(To reach Miguel Timoshenkov, call (956) 728-2583 or e-mail timo1@lmtonline.com.)
Mexico is the new Colombia, Mexican officials are just fugureheads. Drug lords and Mexican "mafia" gangs run the country.
Hey, devolve, take a look at #12...think you could put a sombrero on ol' Baghdad Bob?
Instant Nuevo Laredo Lorenzo!
If he had a little bit of that pencil-thin mustache/goatee thing goin' on, it wouldn't hurt my feelings, either. LOL
Same in Northern Virginia (close to our national capital) - gangs of illegal and legal immigrants have threatened to kill police.
What happened? Illegal pathway cartoons?
"The Cantaflas Kid (sombrero "shrinkage")"
ROTFLOL!
I'll be watching this one. ;o)
Halfway through the article we finally learn that it was probably drug traffickers that perpetrated this crime. Mexico has no control over them it seems.
Border Bob Lives!!!
Family members would not allow more than one officer per agency into their home, except for the forensics team members.
That's an interesting statement. I guess it means they are afraid of the policia?
lol!
Border Bob Lives!!!
Border Bob lacks something..... How about BAJA BOB?
I think BAJA BOB may be the trademark of the resistance movemant. Everyone knows the establishment is full of shit on this one. Paying attention George? Let us have some fun!!!!
You're certainly right about getting more votes, but I do mean follow the money too. The Cartel touches places and people of all walks of life. Money does talk...to some people.
I was going to use "Cuerno de Chivo" for an assault rifle reference in DE, but I thought it was too exotic and would require too much translation plus explanation to be worth it.
el Presendenti Jorge would have approved of it though...
:-)
I might stick it in.
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