Apology letter found after US citizens killed in Mexico

A letter claiming to be from the Mexican drug cartel blamed for abducting 4 Americans and killing two of them condemned the violence and stated the gang turned over to authorities its personal members who have been accountable.

In a letter obtained by The Associated Press by a Tamaulipas state legislation enforcement supply, the Scorpions faction of the Gulf cartel apologized to the residents of Matamoros the place the Americans have been kidnapped, the Mexican lady who died within the cartel shootout, and the 4 Americans and their households.

Drug cartels have been identified to situation communiques to intimidate rivals and authorities, but additionally at instances like these to do some public relations work to attempt to easy over conditions that might have an effect on their business.

Four US citizens assaulted and kidnapped in Mexico. — A letter claiming to be from the Mexican drug cartel blamed for abducting 4 Americans and killing two of them condemned the violence and stated the gang turned over to authorities its personal members who have been accountable. (9News)

“We have decided to turn over those who were directly involved and responsible in the events, who at all times acted under their own decision-making and lack of discipline,” the letter reads, including that these people had gone in opposition to the cartel’s guidelines, which embrace “respecting the life and well-being of the innocent.”

{A photograph} of 5 males face down on the pavement and sure accompanied the letter, which was shared with The Associated Press by the supply given that they continue to be nameless as a result of they weren’t approved to share the doc.

State officers didn’t instantly publicly verify having new suspects in custody.

A member of the Mexican security forces stands next to a white minivan with North Carolina plates and several bullet holes, at the crime scene where gunmen kidnapped four US citizens who crossed into Mexico from Texas, Friday, March 3, 2023. — A member of the Mexican safety forces stands subsequent to a white minivan with North Carolina plates and several other bullet holes, on the crime scene the place gunmen kidnapped 4 US residents who crossed into Mexico from Texas, Friday, March 3, 2023. (AP)

A separate state safety official stated that 5 males had been discovered tied up inside one of many autos that authorities had been trying to find, together with the letter. That official additionally spoke on situation of anonymity as a result of they weren’t approved to talk about the case.

The cousin of one of many victims stated his household feels “great” understanding that Eric Williams, who was shot within the left leg, is alive however doesn’t settle for any apologies from the cartel blamed for kidnapping the Americans.

“It ain’t gonna change nothing about the suffering that we went through,” Jerry Wallace informed The Associated Press on Thursday. Wallace, 62, known as for the American and Mexican governments to higher deal with cartel violence.

A Mexican police investigator inspects the minivan have been 4 Americans the place shot and brought from final week, on the Tamaulipas State Prosecutor´s headquarters in Matamoros, Mexico, Wednesday, March 8, 2023. Their minivan crashed and was fired on shortly after they crossed into the border metropolis of Matamoros on Friday as drug cartel factions tore by the streets. (AP)

Last Friday, the 4 Americans crossed into Matamoros from Texas in order that considered one of them might have beauty surgical procedure. Around noon they have been fired on in downtown Matamoros after which loaded right into a pickup truck.

Another good friend, who remained in Brownsville, had known as police after being unable to achieve the group that crossed the border Friday morning.

Brownsville Police Department spokesman Martin Sandoval stated Thursday that officers adopted protocol by checking native hospitals and jails after receiving the report of the lacking folks. A detective was assigned to the case throughout the hour after which alerted the FBI after realizing the folks had crossed into Mexico. Shortly after, the FBI took over the case as social media movies started to point out a shootout with the victims matching the outline of the lacking folks.

Authorities positioned them Tuesday morning on the outskirts of the town, guarded by a person who was arrested. Two of the Americans have been lifeless, one was wounded and the opposite was unhurt.

A Mexican military soldier guards the Tamaulipas State Prosecutor’s headquarters in Matamoros, Mexico. (AP)

On Tuesday, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland blamed the drug cartels for the Americans’ deaths.

“The DEA and the FBI are doing everything possible to dismantle and disrupt and ultimately prosecute the leaders of the cartels and the entire networks that they depend on” Garland stated.

Also Thursday, the Tamaulipas state prosecutor’s workplace stated it had seized an ambulance and a medical clinic in Matamoros that have been allegedly used to supply remedy to the Americans after the taking pictures.

The Americans informed investigators they have been taken to the clinic in an ambulance to obtain first support, the assertion stated. By reviewing police surveillance video across the metropolis, authorities have been in a position to establish the ambulance and discover the clinic. No arrests have been made on the clinic, in response to the assertion.