11 dead in clash between criminal gang and villagers in central Mexico
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The clash occurred in the hamlet of Texcaltitlan, about 80 miles southwest of Mexico City.
- Eight of the dead were members of the criminal gang, while three were village residents.
- The violent Familia Michoacana drug cartel has been dominant in that area for a decade.
- The clash was sparked by the gang's demand for local farmers to pay an extortion fee.
- The clash was captured in dramatic video footage showing villagers chasing down suspected gang members amid bursts of automatic gunfire.
SUMMARY
Eleven people were killed in a clash between a criminal gang and residents of a small farming community in central Mexico. The clash occurred in the hamlet of Texcaltitlan, about 80 miles southwest of Mexico City. Eight of the dead were members of the criminal gang, while three were village residents. The violent Familia Michoacana drug cartel has been dominant in that area for a decade. The clash was sparked by the gang's demand for local farmers to pay an extortion fee. Drug cartels in Mexico have been known to extort money from almost any business, sometimes resorting to violence. The Familia Michoacana is known for its brazen ambushes of police and previous massacres. The clash was captured in dramatic video footage showing villagers chasing down suspected gang members amid bursts of automatic gunfire. The gang members appeared to wear military-style uniforms, and villagers set their bodies and vehicles on fire. The clash is a grim reminder of the ongoing violence and influence of drug cartels in Mexico.