RECENT SHOOTING INCIDENTS NEAR US CONGEN TIJUANA

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TIJUANA 001144 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR DS/IP/WHA, DS/TIA/PII, AND MEXICO CITY FOR RSO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC KCRM PINS MX CASC SUBJECT: RECENT SHOOTING INCIDENTS NEAR US CONGEN TIJUANA TIJUANA 00001144 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (SBU) U.S. Consulate General Tijuana's Law Enforcement Working Group (LEWG) reports two recent incidents of shooting near the U.S. Consulate General (USCG). Mission personnel were not involved in the incidents, but they occurred within a few blocks of where Mission personnel work and live, on the main thoroughfare where staff commutes. ¶2. (SBU) The two separate shooting incidents were not aimed at USCG staff nor facilities, but rather at Mexico federal preventative police (PFP) staying at nearby hotels. Neither USCG staff nor any Mexico officials were injured, but one by-stander was injured during the first shooting and died within a few hours in a local hospital. ¶3. (SBU) During the rotating assignments, Mexico federal officers from PFP and federal investigative agency (AFI) reside in several local hotels located on Boulevard Agua Caliente, a main street about two blocks from the USCG. In Tijuana, Mexico federal police officers are assigned for temporary tours lasting from six months to a year. The temporary assignments, instead of permanent assignments, are an attempt to reduce corruption by local drug cartels. Their residence at the local hotels is visible to the public due to uniformed presence by officers with shoulder weapons posted at the street entrances. ¶4. (U) On Saturday, November 7, 2009, at approximately 2130 hours, dozens of shots were fired from a vehicle into the front entrance lobby of the Hotel Corona Plaza located at Blvd. Agua Caliente no. 1426, Tijuana, Baja California C.P. 22410. A presumed drug cartel vehicle drove up to the sidewalk at the front hotel entrance and fired high-powered weapons into the glass entry doors. The hotel entrance is adjacent to the sidewalk and street, with no setback. Bullet holes were visible on the front building facade on street and second levels. A by-stander was injured and died later, but no PFP officers were were injured. The Hotel Corona Plaza is approximately one-half mile from eight Mission residencies and the USCG Tijuana Annex building where Non-Immigrant Visa services are provided. The Hotel Corona Plaza is two miles from the USCG Tijuana Main building, and approximately one mile from the Principal Officer's residence (CGR). ¶5. (SBU) A second shooting by alleged drug cartel members occurred on Tuesday, November 10, 2009, at approximately 2230 hours. Local pslice contacts reported that two or more moving vehicles travelling on Blvd. Agua Caliente opened fire with automatic weapons from both sides of the vehicles at two motels located on opposite sides of the same street (ie. drive-by shooting). The two motels were: the Motel Real Inn De Tijuana, Blvd Agua Caliente No. 11451. Col: Hipodromo; Tijuana, Baja California 22420; and Motel Golf: Blvd. Agua Caliente No. 11420, Tijuana, Baja California. ¶6. (SBU) This shooting was aimed at the Real Inn hotel, however no injuries resulted. Police contacts revealed that, although not publicly released, investigators found a threat message at the scene stating that aPFP officer named Vicente Lagunas, nicknamed `Lumpa', was the target of both attacks. Mexico military is assisting with investigation of allegations that the named officer and others were involved in corruption related to the disposition of drug evidence seized from a cartel. Aside from the PFP officers at this motel, also housed were some citizen detainees, reportedly under `house arrest' pending criminal charges. ¶7. (SBU) During the last incident, the volley of shots from various weapon types could clearly be heard at the USCG Main building, at four Mission residences within the block, and also a mile away at the CGR. The two motels targeted in the second shooting are located within one-half mile of the USCG Tijuana Main building and several Mission residences, and within one mile of the CGR. None of the hotels involved in the shooting incidents are utilized by Post or by TDY visitors. However, Boulevard Agua Caliente is a main thoroughfare and contains numerous hotels, including the nearby utilized Marriott, located at Boulevard Agua Caliente No. 11553, Tijuana, Baja California 22420 Mexico. ¶8. (SBU) Drug cartel or organized crime groups attacks on Mexico municipal level, state, and federal police agencies have been increasingly bold and visible in the last six months in Tijuana. There have been forty policemen murdered in Baja California so far in 2009, during coordinated attacks on police stations, fixed posts, and marked police vehicles. Cartels have announced in `narco-messages' left at crime scenes and on the municipal police radio frequency, that they will continue killing police until Tijuana Public Safety and Security Secretary, Lt. Col. Julian Leyzaola, resigns his leadership of the municipal agencies. Publicly, Leyzaola has announced in TIJUANA 00001144 002.2 OF 002 response that he will not resign, and will continue his clean-up and anti-corruption efforts. ¶9. (SBU) RSO and Post's law enforcement representatives (LEWG) will remain in close contact with local U.S. contacts regarding developments, and with local Mexican law enforcement counterparts for sharing of any details of investigation. Post will continue to monitor the situation in Baja California. For comments or questions, please contact RSO at 011-52-664-622-7464. KASHKETT