12 Tamaulipas state officers arrested for homicide of 19

Twelve state officers from Tamaulipas are now under arrest and facing charges related to the homicide of 19 people in Camargo on Jan. 22.

Tamaulipas Attorney General Dr. Irving Barrios Mojica shared the findings of their investigation during a late night press conference on Tuesday from the state capitol in Ciudad Victoria.

On Jan. 22, the bodies of 19 people were found burned inside of a 2008 Toyota Sequoia SUV in the municipality of Camargo, Tamaulipas, the Mexican state bordering Starr County. A bullet-riddled Chevrolet Silverado pick-up truck was also found.

Barrios Mojica said four of the 19 victims were identified using 29 samples of DNA sent from relatives. Two of the victims are Guatemalan migrants, a man and a woman.

The two other bodies belong to Mexican nationals from Nuevo Leon and San Luis Potosi.

Of the two vehicles found at the scene, only the pickup truck had signs of being involved in a gun battle. The Silverado had 113 bullet holes. Three long firearms and some casings were also recovered at the scene.

Authorities suspect one of the Mexican victims, “Daniel P.,” was a human smuggler. The other man was identified as “Jesus M.” He reportedly requested the 2008 Toyota Sequoia from the National Immigration Institute office in Nuevo Leon. That vehicle was involved in the rescue of 66 foreigners by the Nuevo Leon police on Dec. 9.

Barrios Moreno said the investigation found the Jan. 22 incident began as a human smuggling effort involving several vehicles transporting Guatemalans and El Salvadorans to the U.S. while employing armed human smugglers.

Authorities believe there was tampering of evidence at the crime scene.

Though one truck was riddled with bullet holes, no matching casings or ammunition were found in the area.

Suspicions were cast upon the responding officers when the official reports filed that day and interviews from the officers appeared to be contradictory.

Telephone calls, geolocation data, expert opinions and video surveillance also formed part of the investigation.

The Office of Public Safety found the evidence pointed to the participation of 12 state police officers who are a mix of state police and those part of a special state police force.

Arrest warrants were issued on charges of homicide, abuse of power, failing to carry out their official duties, and providing false reports to an authority.

The 12 have been arrested and turned over to a judge. They are facing the possibility of 20 to 50 years for each victim. The other charges like abuse of power and providing false reports carry a maximum penalty of seven years.

The Attorney General’s office condemned the actions and vowed to exercise justice.