By “El Huaso” for Borderland Beat
Five were killed and another five were injured after a group of masked gunmen threw a molotov cocktail and shot up a bar in Celaya, Guanajuato state last week. A message left at the scene points to CJNG being behind the attack, apparently targeting businesses linked to a CSRL plaza boss.
The attack occurred on the evening of Thursday, 27 June at the Bar Life on Adolfo López Mateos street in Celaya, Guanajuato. Witnesses report that 6 masked gunmen stormed into a private event and shot three dead. Proceso reported that two of those targeted and killed immediately were employees, while a third gunshot victim managed to run away before being shot dead in the street.
The attackers then threw a molotov cocktail, which killed two others via smoke inhalation, before fleeing the scene.
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| Photo: El Grafico |
The casualty toll was previously reported as four dead and five injured, but local news source Periodico Correo reported today that an additional body of a 29-year old male drink server was discovered. Forensic investigators somehow missed the body the night of the attack, but later on, the owner heard a phone notification and discovered the corpse of his employee on a stairwell. The additional victim died of smoke inhalation.
A local crime reporting Telegram group posted a photo of a narco message apparently found at the scene, which appears to have been written by the CJNG. The message reads:
This is how we will leave the businesses you acquired with the stolen fuel, kidnapping, and extorsion, “MAMEY”, fucking scumbag killer of innocents. Celaya and all of Guanajuato have an owner you already know who we are bitches.
“Remember that all of Guanajuato has an owner”, is a common phrase used in CJNG messaging. Of the 54 narco messages signed by CJNG in Guanajuato in 2021, 45 (83.3%) had this same phrase.
“Mamey” refers to Emmanuel y/o José Guadalupe “N”, a CSRL plaza boss in the state and a close associate of CSRL leader El Marro. He has been mentioned numerous times in CJNG narco communications over the last several years.
Above: El Mamey photographed after his capture in July 2020.
Above: One of several printed narco banners posted around Guanajuato state by the CJNG in early 2020.
A further text message purporting to be from the CJNG which was circulating on local Telegram groups, reads:
TO ALL THOSE WHO ARE INVOLVED WITH PEOPLE OF EL MARRO:
WHETHER THEY ARE ASSOCIATES OR LET THEM ENTER THEIR ESTABLISHMENTS OR ATTEND THEM OR HIDE THEM, WE ARE GOING TO ATTACK ALL THOSE PLACES WE ALREADY HAVE SEEN MORE OF ADOLFO LOPEZ BULEVARD
YOU CITIZENS CONTINUE GOING OUT TO THE NIGHTS BECAUSE WE HAVE SEEN THAT THE PLACES ARE FULL OR YOU GO OUT TO GIVE BLOWJOBS IN YOUR CARS
WE KNOW ALL THOSE CLUBS AND EVENTS THEY DO AND THE PEOPLE WHO GO
MANY THINK THAT NOTHING HAPPENS SO KEEP COMING AND YOU WILL SEE THAT THERE WILL BE NO NIGHTLIFE LEFT IN THE CITY THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN RELAX WILL BE US
THIS ALSO GOES FOR THE FUCKING MOTORCYCLISTS WHO GET TOGETHER LATER
YOU ASSHOLES DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GETTING INTO
CELAYA AND ALL OF GUANAJUATO HAS A FUCKING OWNER
ATTE: MERA VERGA
It is important to note the difficulty of ascertaining whether digital messages are real or not.
Attacks against bars and other businesses with extensive civilian deaths have become an ugly hallmark of criminal conflict in Guanajuato state. This attack makes three so far in 2024. In 2023, seven bars were attacked, reported Periodico Correo.