Running Gun Battle Kills as Many as 15 in Tijuana,Mexico

[Winchester 73]

Police say shootout kills as many as 15 in Mexico

http://my.att.net/s/editorial.dll?p...rg=blsadstrgt&_lid=332&_lnm=tg+ne+topnews&ck=
Published: 4/26/08, 3:45 PM EDT

By MARK STEVENSON
TIJUANA, Mexico (AP) - Running gunbattles between suspected drug traffickers broke out on the streets of the border city of Tijuana on Saturday, and there were conflicting reports on how many people were killed.

One Tijuana police official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk on the record, said the shootouts left between 14 and 15 people dead. Another official, speaking on the same terms, put the number of dead at around 12.

Authorities promised to release more solid information at a news conference in this border city.

Initial versions said suspected drug traffickers fired at each other from moving cars on one of the city's main boulevard's in the pre-dawn hours.

Photos from the scene showed bodies and assault rifles on the street.

The traffickers may have belonged to the same cartel and police said it could be a settling of scores within the cartel.

The officials said that in addition to the dead, several people were wounded.

Drug gangs have staged a series of bloody shootouts and assassinations in Tijuana in recent years as part of running turf battles for control of lucrative trafficking routes.

 

[Moonclip]

I have no problems going to TJ and I may even go there in 2-3 weeks. Generally if you don't look for trouble and are not a rich kidnapping target and are not in a cartel or involverd with them or the police you will be ok.

Heck I've been shot at in LA but never in TJ though I do admit I spend more time in Los Angeles

How many US citizen tourists have been shot and killed in TJ in the last 5 years? Very few to 0 I'd reckon.

 

[yokel]

Haven't been back to TJ since the mid-1990s when I was navy corpsman stationed at NMC San Diego.

The place is definitely subject to being wild and crazy during the day or night.

The way I remember it: Scary, frightening, exhilarating and wonderful all at the same time.

 

[DAVIDSDIVAD]

The border between the US and Mexico is starting to become a very scary place.

I even worry when we go to visit family

 

[CWL]

I head to Rosarito Beach when going to Baja, Tijuana is a definite bypass.

 

[ilbob]

I read somewhere that the state department either has, is, or is seriously considering some kind of official warning to Americans that travel to Mexico might be especially hazardous. There is apparently a fair amount of disinterest in some corners of out government toward admitting this.

 

[Moonclip]

The US dept of state always has that kind of warning on it's travel advisory. It also tells you to be careful swimming in Acapulco and such.

 

[Zoogster]

How many US citizen tourists have been shot and killed in TJ in the last 5 years? Very few to 0 I'd reckon.

In many nations murders are not solved or reported at the same level as in the US.
Generaly any death in the US is reported and officialy documented.
That is not the case in some areas of some countries.
They don't want to hurt tourism, and they want to keep the crime statistics low, so some things get reported and many get swept under the rug and remain unreported so are never to be tallied.

That is one of the big things people fail to take into consideration with statistics from various countries.
Some countries only report a fraction of what happens, and some report close to a 100%.

Some places solve 90% of crimes that occur, and other places 10%.

 

[Moonclip]

The US state dept travel advisory did or does state though that a US citizen was killed in Nuevo Laredo IIRC. Millions of US citizens did and have visited TJ though w/o incident. I'd not reccomend it for some though. Also business has been bad there lately, partly though due to new passport requirements.

The San Ysidro broder crossing is the busiest land border crossing in the world.

 

[Erik]

"The border between the US and Mexico is starting to become a very scary place."

It started implies that at some point in time it wasn't.

Folks, Mexico is one of the most dangerous countries inthe world, and the US-Mexico border one of the most dangerous places short of a few "hot spots."

 

[rocinante]

My mother in law lives in San Diego and use to go to Tijuana for dental work and get prescription drugs cheap. When her cab stopped half a mile from the border and without explanation told her to get out she stopped going. She was positive it was a set up so that someone could jump her but nothing happened. Either way she believes it is not a safe place to be any hour of the day any more.

I went a couple of times in the early 90s and it was a hoot.

 

[Moonclip]

Don't forget that maybe 1-2 million US citizens live in Mexico. I just checked the current state dept warning on Mexico. It's worded somewhat more harshly.

 

[Cosmoline]

It's no country for old men.

 

[Moonclip]

A lot of US retirees live in Mexico i recently had dental work done in TJ also w/o incident.

 

[Winchester 73]

A lot of US retirees live in Mexico i recently had dental work done in TJ also w/o incident.

There's gotta be a pun there somewhere.
I haven't got to it yet.

 

[DAVIDSDIVAD]

It started implies that at some point in time it wasn't.

Folks, Mexico is one of the most dangerous countries inthe world, and the US-Mexico border one of the most dangerous places short of a few "hot spots."

I'm speaking as a first generation American, Erik, and I'm talking about the El Paso/ Ciu. Juarez border.


I remember going there not too long ago, and feeling perfectly safe.

Back then, as long as you didn't venture into the wrong places, it was relatively safe.

Now, even my relatives who lived in Juarez for a good portion of their lives won't go into Juarez if they don't need to.

 

[scrat]

I head to Rosarito Beach when going to Baja, Tijuana is a definite bypass.

Same here

 

[1911Tuner]

So. 12-15 drug dealers/suppliers...who are responsible for sending their product across our southern borders...are dead. What a loss. How positively awful.

There oughta be a law.

I know! Let's have a Crack-Aid benefit concert!

Sorry. I'm in the grips of yet another 'roid rage...on doctor's orders, of course. I can't be held responsible for lack of sympathy and warmth.

 

[Standing Wolf]

The border between the US and Mexico is starting to become a very scary place.

There's a border?

 

[DAVIDSDIVAD]

There's a border?

Yes, there is a border.

There is not, however, an impassable seal to keep "undesirables" out.

 

[Jason_G]

I'm speaking as a first generation American, Erik, and I'm talking about the El Paso/ Ciu. Juarez border.


I remember going there not too long ago, and feeling perfectly safe.

Back then, as long as you didn't venture into the wrong places, it was relatively safe.

Now, even my relatives who lived in Juarez for a good portion of their lives won't go into Juarez if they don't need to.

Yep. Used to go to Rancho Palo Chino and downtown CD Juarez without feeling too unsafe. The most nervous I ever got was crossing back into the US. I always had this unfounded fear that I would catch flak re-entering for some reason. I still wouldn't have wanted my wife going around by herself there though. Pink and black crosses are a pretty vivid visual reminder that it's never been the safest place, particularly for females. Now I'd be a little more leery in that part of the country, even for myself.

Jason

 

[The_Shootist]

Laredo

If you believe some of the reports Baghdad is safer than Neuvo Lareod (at in Baghdad we can carry guns ). I know that when I go to Laredo or areas around the border its the only time when CCW'ing I bother to carry a backup piece.

 

[Biker]

DAVIDSDIVAD said:

"Yes, there is a border.

There is not, however, an impassable seal to keep "undesirables" out."

Well...you have something against keeping "undesirables" out? Hmmm?

Biker

 

[Moonclip]

Lets not turn this in to an illegal immigrant thread please guys? I'd like it to stay open. The border is porous by nature, the USA, or some of it doesn't want illegals and drugs flooding north.

Mexico (or some of it) doesn't want guns and ammo flowing south.

I just enjoy eating tacos and getting my teeth fixed cheaply in TJ!

 

[Winchester 73]

I just enjoy eating tacos and getting my teeth fixed cheaply in TJ!

And the 6-10 ,hopefully still running at Aqua Caliente race track.As I faithfully played it every weekend in the wonderful summer of 1960.As I drove down from my "home'' in the San Diego YMCA,
Roy Orbison's great 'Only the Lonely' resonates on the radio, heading to the San Ysidro border crossing.Great memories.