A BOY of 14 has been arrested in connection with a birthday party massacre that saw eight killed and seven hurt, including children.
The young teen, nicknamed “El Chapito”, allegedly rode up to the family celebration on a motorbike and opened fire on the attendees in Mexico City on January 22.
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The boy – who has not been identified – was arrested with an alleged accomplice, known as “El Ñoño”, Mexico officials reported on Thursday.
The killing spree took place in the low-income neighbourhood of Chimalhuacan in Mexico City, while a party was taking place.
The attackers killed eight people and injured five adults and two children, including a 3-year-old.
The federal police have also arrested seven of members of the same gang on drug-related charges in a swooping 12-hour sting operation in the suburbs of Mexico city last weekend.
The motive behind the birthday party killings has not yet been disclosed, but drug cartels in Mexico are known for carrying out contract killings or inflicting ruthless retribution on rivals and enemies.
Child killers are not uncommon in Mexico, which is still reeling from news of the crimes of “El Ponchis”.
The 14-year-old, known only as Edgar, admitted to participating in at least four decapitations in 2010.
However, the young boy claimed to have been kidnapped aged 11 and forced into committing the hideous crimes on behalf of the Cartel of the South Pacific.
For now, “El Chapito” has been transferred to a specialised criminal justice facility for adolescents.
The boy’s nickname is a reference to notorious Mexican drug kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman – the former leader of the vicious Sinaloa cartel.
Guzman was arrested and extradited to the US in 2017. He was convicted in 2019 of charges including drug trafficking, money laundering and weapons-related offenses. He is now serving a life sentence in Colorado.
The drug lord’s son, Ovidio Guzman, was captured in a dramatic operation led by Mexican security forces in January.
His arrests sparked all-out-war as a wave of violence ripped across Sinaloa state. The army were forced onto the streets to fight rampaging drug cartel members.
At least 30 people were killed amid the bloody clashes between the military and cartel gunmen.
The news of the arrest of “El Chapito” comes as waves of gang violence rock Mexico and tourists are warned to avoid travel to the country.
Just as university students flock to Mexico for spring break, a surge of brutal slayings and kidnappings have been taking place leading many to abandon their trips.
Iona Cleave
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