Eight dead after gunmen attacks in Mexico's Acapulco port city

Eight dead after gunmen attacks in Mexico's Acapulco port city

2011-03-17 00:07:30 GMT+7 (ICT)

ACAPULCO, MEXICO (BNO NEWS) -- Eight people on Wednesday were killed after gunmen attacks in the suburban area of Mexico's touristic Acapulco port city, El Universal newspaper reported.

The group of unidentified armed men was travelling on five vans and stormed three neighborhoods killing eight people, including three minors, and two more injured. Local businesses and schools remained closed due to the attacks.

At about 7:45 a.m. local time, the five vans approached a residence located between Michoacan Street and 2nd Street. The gunmen threw a grenade at the residence that burned it to the ground.

Approximately 100 meters from the scene, the armed men shot at three individuals and killed them on Michoacan Street. Police recovered several shells from AK.47 rifles, AR-15 rifles and .9 mm handguns.

Among the victims was a 14-year-old boy, who was later identified as Miguel Ignacio Alemán. Minutes later, the suspects arrived at Simon Bolivar neighborhood where they opened fire at three houses.

In addition, the gunmen torched a small store located near the houses in Batalla de Ayacucho Street. In the attack, a mother and her 20-day-old son were shot and injured. Both were transported to a nearby hospital and are reported in stable condition.

Police forces arrived at the scene and found three bodies; a 70-year -old woman and her two grandsons. The elder woman died as she tried to protect the two minors, aged six and two respectively.

On the Mexico-Acapulco highway, two bodies were found inside an abandoned vehicle. The white taxi was left at about 25 meters from a crossing bridge after two men were shot dead inside.

According to Héctor Paulino Vargas López, chief of Acapulco police agency, fourteen people have been killed this week in violence related with organized crime. He labeled the situation in the port city as 'delicate'.

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