The scene of the crime (source: Excelsior) |
José de Jesús Gallegos Álvarez was walking to his Toyota
Highlander at around 3:15 pm on Saturday March 9 in the Zapopan neighbourhood of Guadalajara, the
state capital and Mexico’s second largest city, when he was shot multiple
times. Investigators found at least 25 spent 9 millimeter cartridges at the
scene.
It is thought that the assailants may have first deliberately
crashed into Mr. Gallegos Álvarez’s vehicle to distract him.
Gallegos Álvarez, 47, had just met with other members of the
cabinet of the newly-elected PRI governor Jorge Aristóteles Sandoval to assess
his first 100 days in office. The secretary himself had only held his position for nine days.
The tourism secretary, a property developer, was killed
outside of the Torre de Hierro building, which was one of his projects. His chauffeur
and another individual travelling with him were wounded in the attack.
Four people have been arrested in relation to the murder, which
had at least 40 witnesses.
As well, the secretary of state for Jalisco, Arturo Zamora
Jiménez, said in an official statement that, as a result of the preliminary investigation,
the government believes Mr. Gallegos Álvarez was killed as a result of a dispute
related to his “business and economic activities”, and that it had nothing to
do with his role as a politician.
Part of the reason for this theory was the use of a 9 millimeter
handgun, which is not typical of drug cartels known for using heavier weapons.
In and of itself, however, that hardly argues for the lack of involvement of organized
crime. As well, to assume that there is some sort of impermeable barrier
between the drug cartels and other forms of criminal activity might best be
described as naive.
Violence related to tourism in Jalisco has been in the news
of late. Last week the American Bentley Main died after being attacked in his
home in Lake Chapala.
For news related to that story please see:
February 24: One
man stabbed to death in Chapala, expat in critical condition in Guadalajara
hospital
Twitter: @TimothyEWilson
Email: lapoliticaeslapolitica [at] gmail [dot] com
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