Four die in shoot-out near Mexican border

NOGALES, Sonora—Four men were killed in last Monday’s shoot-out in an exclusive neighborhood in Nogales, Mexico, up from just one as initially reported.

One of Monday’s victims was a Sonoran state policeman.

It followed the execution by grenade and gunshots of the state police chief, also in Nogales on Sunday, the night before.

“When they go after cops, this is scary,” Santa Cruz County Sheriff Tony Estrada said in a short interview Thursday. “It’s the work of brazen, seemingly fearless executioners.”

For years, Estrada has warned that drug-fueled warfare like that in border cities Ciudad Juarez and Tijuana could come to northern Sonora.

Apparently, it’s here.

Late last month, 10 gunmen were killed in a rolling, high-speed shoot out with law officers and soldiers in Nogales, Mexico.

Sheriff Estrada said he fears the killing could easily leap the border and wind up in Arizona.

“The border is an invisible line,” he said.

Monday’s shoot out took place in Kennedy Colonia, an upscale neighborhood with large, multi-story houses overlooking well-manicured lawns and tall palms swaying above elegant swimming pools.

One house was riddled and then partly burned. The house next to it was also damaged in the three- to four-hour battle. No residents were hurt.

One of those killed was State Police officer Juan Carlos Galvez, 27.

On Sunday night, the chief of the Sonoran state Police Commander Juan Manuel Pav—n Felix was in town for meetings related the recent crime outburst.

Mexico closed all southbound routes into Nogales for about three hours after the shooting, but northbound traffic into Arizona was not stopped.

Earlier this week in El Paso, Tex., one witness testified that money extorted from merchants there was sent to mob bosses across the border in Ciudad Juarez.

The El Paso Times reported last Sunday that there had been 20 homicides in Juarez the previous week.

jlamb@gvnews.com | 547-9749