Lucio R Borderland Beat posted by 'Mano' material from AFN -Twiiter
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An assassination attempt was made today, against the former police chief of Tijuana and Juarez, Julián Leyzaola Pérez.
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The latest reports indicate that he is out of surgery and is recovering, according to the Secretary of Public Security, Omar Muñoz Cesar Morales.
Leyzaola was attacked this afternoon when he was traveling in a white Jeep Commander SUV. His wife, daughter and escort (bodyguard) were with him at the time of the shooting.
After the attack the suspects attempted to flee in a blue Mitsubishi Endeavor, but were stopped a short distance from the scene of the attack.
The detainees were identified as Hugo Alonso Serenil Luna alias ‘El Cabezón’, 33, and Jesús Antonio Castañeda Álvarez, 25.
Authorities report the suspects were both drugged, and told police “we were ordered to kill someone but never knew the name”.
The former mayor of Tijuana, Jorge Ramos Hernández, reported this afternoon that his good friend and great human being, Lieutenant Colonel Julian Leyzaola is stable, but that one of his bodyguards died during the attack. The unidentified bodyguard, "lost his life protecting Julian". ((other reports have his condition as critical but stable)
The attack occurred when Leyzaola stopped his vehicle at a commercial area on avenida Internacional, in the city of Juarez, so that his family could exit the vehicle to do some shopping. It was while he stopped and still behind the wheel that a blue Mitsubishi pulled up, one gunman exited the vehicle and began shooting.
Leyzaola was transferred to a private hospital, where they performed the surgery and he is recovering, while being heavily guarded. It is not uncommon for sicarios to go to the hospital and finish the job.
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He was attacked in what is described as “a hail of bullets”, four struck the former chief, one in the neck, twice in the chest area, and one in the back.
Secretary Muñoz Morales, confirmed the arrest of the two alleged perpetrators.
Julian Leyzaola Perez is a retired former military officer who served as Secretary of Public Security of Ciudad Juarez, from 2010 to 2013.
Before his arrival at the border, he headed the municipal police of Tijuana, where he significantly reduced the crime wave that engulfed the city.
Recently, the Partido Encuentro Social political party, (PES) the appointment of Lieutenant Colonel Julián Leyzaola Pérez, as security adviser in 2015.