Mexico: 10 Dead in Deadly Gun Battle, Including 2 Police Officers, 2 Civilians

A deadly gun battle erupted in the Mexican city of Cuernavaca between police and a group of armed civilians. It resulted in ten deaths, including two police officers and two civilians.

Authorities stated that the gunmen were all civilians but were heavily armed with rifles, ballistic vests, and radios. They engaged police officers throughout various parts of the city, which is located 50 miles south of Mexico City. It is a known hub for various criminal organizations.

The Associated Press reported that the gun battle began "after a convoy of gunmen opened fire on people who were drinking on the street." The gunmen then tried to abduct one person, thus sparking the gun battle when police engaged them.

The city of Cuernavaca serves as the capital of Morelos State and is found near the Tepozteco Mountains. However, competing criminal organizations vied for control over it and was even named Mexico's most dangerous city in the past.

More Details of Vicious Gun Battle in Mexico Surface

According to the Mexican newspaper La Jornada, forces of the Secretariat of Citizen Protection and Assistance (SERPAC) faced the armed gunmen by themselves and did not ask for support from the State Security Commission (CES) of Cuernavaca.

They also did not ask for support from elements of the Mexican National Guard and the Mexican Army, even though the shooting happened near the offices of the State Attorney General and the 24th Military Regiment located on Emiliano Zapata Avenue.

The mayor of Cuernavaca, José Luis Urióstegui Salgado, stated that police only reacted to a call for help. When they arrived at the scene, they were immediately met with gunshots. The incident reportedly began in an area where people were consuming alcoholic beverages.

The shootout then led to a police chase where more units of the SERPAC arrived. The two officers then died in the exchange, while three were wounded. Of the armed assailants, six were reportedly killed.

Reports stated that the armed attackers brought in high-powered rifles and arrived in a convoy of two trucks and a motorcycle. Two more civilians were caught in the crossfire, and both died. Meanwhile, the police officers who were killed in the gun battle are identified as Francisco Calderón and Juan Carlos Salgado.

Cuernavaca Mayor Defends Why Police Did Not Call for Backup During Deadly Mexico Gun Battle

Alicia Vazquez Luna, the city's Secretary of Citizen Protection and Assistance, called for Mayor Uriostegui's resignation after the deadly gun battle resulted in the deaths of two officers and two civilians, accusing the administration of sending her colleagues without weapons to the streets.

Uriostegui, meanwhile, shot back, defending the lack of communication with other agencies, stating that everything happened so fast and it was already over in the span of 20 minutes, meaning that even if backup arrived, it would have been too late. However, he did admit that there were some unarmed police officers when the deadly shootout happened, according to El Pais.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Mexico security: Surge in violence linked to organised crime - Al Jazeera English