Residents attempt to lynch police officers for alleged murder of neighbor in Mexico

Photo: Victoria Razo Agence France-Presse Members of the state police guard several streets around the city's central square following the death of Brando Arellano Cruz, 27, who was allegedly killed by members of the municipal police in Lerdo de Tejada, Veracruz, Mexico, on January 19, 2024.

France Media Agency in Coatzacoalcos, Mexico

January 20, 2024

• Americas

Residents of a village in the eastern Mexican state of Veracruz attempted to lynch police officers whom they accuse of killing a neighbor and burned patrol cars and headquarters of the government, authorities said on Saturday.

The events took place between Friday night and Saturday morning in the municipality of Lerdo de Tejada, in the south of Veracruz, when residents protested against the death, allegedly at the hands of the police, of Brando Arellano Cruz, aged 27.

Residents attacked the police and caused unrest, AFP noted.

Delfino Arellano, the victim's father, told the media that police officers shot his son in the back as he was riding in his car, even though he had already stopped in full view of the officers following him.< /p>

“These people treat us like criminals,” said Mr. Arellano, who assures that the police targeted them and tried to prevent him and his wife from passing by to see their dead son.

The angry residents notably set fire to part of the local government headquarters, two patrol cars and a municipal vehicle, detailed Mayor Maria Esther Arroniz.

The Veracruz State Security Secretariat confirmed the lynching attempt against the agents and announced the arrest of four of them for alleged “homicide” after the incidents in Lerdo de Tejada.

Lynchings and attempted executions carried out by residents are numerous in Mexico. Experts attribute them to a feeling of impunity.

Approximately 62% of Mexicans consider that those responsible for a crime are never or almost never brought before a judge, while 47% believe that impunity will increase in 2023, according to a survey by the organization Impunidad Cero and the Data OMP pollster, published last June.