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Authorities Kill Gang Leader, Mexico Says Authorities Kill Gang Leader, Mexico Says
(5 months later)
MEXICO CITY — The Mexican authorities said on Tuesday that they had killed another leader of the feared Knights Templar drug gang, adding to a string of successes against the organization that seemed to leave only one boss still at large: a former schoolteacher believed to be hiding in the hills of the Pacific state of Michoacán. MEXICO CITY — The Mexican authorities said on Tuesday that they had killed another leader of the feared Knights Templar drug gang, adding to a string of successes against the organization that seemed to leave only one boss still at large: a former schoolteacher believed to be hiding in the hills of the Pacific state of Michoacán.
The leader killed on Monday, Enrique Plancarte, whom the authorities said was the Knights Templar’s second-in-command, was tracked to a nearby state, Querétaro, where local news media reported that he had been living in a rented house for several weeks. Mexican marines surrounded him as he walked down a street and fired when, officials said, he tried to escape.The leader killed on Monday, Enrique Plancarte, whom the authorities said was the Knights Templar’s second-in-command, was tracked to a nearby state, Querétaro, where local news media reported that he had been living in a rented house for several weeks. Mexican marines surrounded him as he walked down a street and fired when, officials said, he tried to escape.
Security forces have recently killed Nazario Moreno González, the group’s inspirational godfather, and arrested several other major figures, including an uncle of Mr. Plancarte. But Servando Gómez, the former teacher who is believed to lead the group now, has eluded capture so far.Security forces have recently killed Nazario Moreno González, the group’s inspirational godfather, and arrested several other major figures, including an uncle of Mr. Plancarte. But Servando Gómez, the former teacher who is believed to lead the group now, has eluded capture so far.
The elimination of much of the leadership of the Knights Templar has done little to stabilize the violence in Michoacán, where soldiers and federal police officers took over security tasks three months ago in an effort to avoid an escalation of the battle between the Knights Templar and the vigilantes who have been fighting them for the past year.The elimination of much of the leadership of the Knights Templar has done little to stabilize the violence in Michoacán, where soldiers and federal police officers took over security tasks three months ago in an effort to avoid an escalation of the battle between the Knights Templar and the vigilantes who have been fighting them for the past year.
The vigilantes, who call themselves self-defense groups, have increasingly shown signs of splintering, and some of their leaders argued that autonomous groups had taken up arms not to defend their property and families but to take over some of the Knights Templar’s rackets.The vigilantes, who call themselves self-defense groups, have increasingly shown signs of splintering, and some of their leaders argued that autonomous groups had taken up arms not to defend their property and families but to take over some of the Knights Templar’s rackets.
“At this point, there are two self-defense groups: the ones who want to clean up the state from crimes and those who seek their own benefit,” José Manuel Mireles, a prominent self-defense leader, said in a radio interview on Tuesday.“At this point, there are two self-defense groups: the ones who want to clean up the state from crimes and those who seek their own benefit,” José Manuel Mireles, a prominent self-defense leader, said in a radio interview on Tuesday.
A self-defense leader has been arrested on suspicion that he ordered the killing of the mayor of the town of Tanhuato, Gustavo Garibay García, because Mr. Garibay had refused entry to the vigilantes, officials said Monday.A self-defense leader has been arrested on suspicion that he ordered the killing of the mayor of the town of Tanhuato, Gustavo Garibay García, because Mr. Garibay had refused entry to the vigilantes, officials said Monday.