Civilians shot at army checkpoint

Civilian encounter at army checkpoint

There are 4 dead, soldiers lose their heads.

This article appeared in El Ágora de Chihuahua on June 8, 2008. This translation is rendered as closely as possible to the original wording. (See the orginal article here).

Cuauhtemoc – June 8, 2008 – Confusion triggered a confrontation shortly before 6 pm, at a military checkpoint at the village of Casa Colorada. Uunofficial information indicates that at least four people were killed in an armed confrontation led by elements of the Army, and two soldiers were transferred to an emergency hospital as well.

At present more than 300 soldiers remain in the besieged town.

According to statements by eyewitnesses, these events began when troops were reviewing a black pick up, and a sedan type car, also black, was unable to stop when it arrived at the checkpoint, and the tires squealed loudly.

Immediately troops without a word began firing against civilians in the sedan, causing the vehicle to impact against a pole belonging to the Federal Electricity Commission; the mishap is keeping the whole town without electricity.

Apparently the two people who manned the sedan lost their lives, as did two men travelling on board the black pick up mentioned above. Likewise, two soldiers were injured seriously in the crossfire.

Also it is known that the businessman Corral Salvador Perez was arrested, along with two of his security escorts, who apparently crossed the military checkpont at the precise moment that these events occurred.