A violent confrontation in the Villas del Sol neighborhood on Wednesday morning, May 14, left two people dead after a police officer was shot and killed by an assailant linked to a notorious criminal group operating in the region.
The incident began with a report of domestic violence at the intersection of Azulejos and Costureros avenues. Upon arriving at the scene, officers from the Citizen Security Secretariat observed a couple attempting to flee on a motorcycle with a minor in tow. The police then initiated a chase through the streets of the neighborhood, but upon reaching Avenida de las Cigüeñas, the motorcycle skidded.
In a shocking turn of events, the suspect, identified as Magdaleno “N,” 30, originally from Tabasco, pulled out a gun and fired at the officers, seriously wounding Juan Pablo Torres de la Cruz. State Police reinforcements arrived shortly after and were also attacked by the assailant before being repelled by the authorities.
The suspect was killed at the scene despite medical services arriving immediately. Investigations by the State Attorney General’s Office (FGE) revealed that Magdaleno “N” was not just an armed civilian, but a suspected member of a criminal cell linked to “El Galletas,” one of the most active perpetrators of violence in Tulum and the surrounding areas.
The case took a complex turn when it was discovered that Magdaleno’s wife, Asunción “N,” had been arrested as part of the police operation. The minor involved in the incident has been placed under the protection of the Specialized Group for the Treatment of Domestic and Gender Violence (GEAVIG).
Authorities are continuing to investigate the case, leaving open the possibility of further arrests given the suspect’s potential links to organized crime networks operating in northern Quintana Roo.
The killing of police officer Juan Pablo Torres de la Cruz has sent shockwaves through the community, highlighting the ongoing struggles with violence and organized crime in the region.
Source: Diario de Yucatan
