Mexican Army Arrests Suspect in Murders of U.S. Consulate Officials

According to both U.S. and Mexican authorities, the suspect from the Barrio Azteca gang, works for the Juarez drug cartel.

Murder of Americans in Juarez that led to a recent arrest

(CIUDAD Juarez, Mexico) - State police in Chihuahua, Mexico say soldiers have made an arrest in the recent murders of three people connected to the U.S. consulate in Ciudad Juarez.

It is reported that the suspect is a ranking member in the Barrio Azteca gang. According to both U.S. and Mexican authorities, the Barrio Azteca gang works for the Juarez drug cartel.

In the violence, 35-year old Lesley A. Enriquez was shot in the head. Her husband, 34-year old Arthur H. Redelfs, was shot in the neck and arm. The couple's one-year old baby, in the back seat of the vehicle, was not harmed in the shooting.

That was the second shooting involving U.S. employees that day in Juarez; and came shortly after gunmen murdered the husband of another consular employee, 37-year old Jorge Alberto Salcido Ceniceros, whose two children were also wounded in the shooting.

Channel 44 in Juarez reported that a spokesperson for joint FED PD, MX Army operation, Torres Valadez, only gave information to the newspaper Diario de Juarez.

"They do this to call attention to the incident, knowing full well other media will make a beeline to it."

Valadez confirmed the arrest to channel 44, adding there would be no further comment for now.

He says they are seeking more effort from U.S. sources, although the FBI wont confirm facts at this moment. At this point they say they are continuing their investigation into the homicides, but will not comment on the arrest.

Related:

Mar-14-2010: Shooting Leaves Three U.S. Embassy Employees Dead in Mexico - Tim King Salem-News.com

Mar-25-2010: All Hell is Breaking Loose in Mexico - Tim King Salem-News.com