Juarez Hits 3,000 Murders This Year
A grim milestone and an unnerving sign of the scope of the violence just across the border from El Paso was passed at 12:15 p.m. Tueseday.
The number of people murdered in Juarez reached 3,000 – nearly 400 more than last year and there are still two weeks to go.
A spokesman for the Chihuahua State Police told ABC-7 the deadly shooting of two men on Tuesday afternoon added to the total.
Around 10 percent of those killed in 2010 have been women.
On average, more than eight people are murdered daily. By contrast, El Paso has had five murders the entire year.
There have been several multiple-homicides in Juarez this year, including at a few house parties and the shooting deaths of a U.S. Embassy worker and her husband in the spring. The killings have not just been done using guns. In the summer, a car bomb was detonated and killed three people.
In an effort to stop the violent drug war in Juarez, several city officials have traveled to Medellin, Colombia to see how that city and country were able to recover from its drug war of nearly 20 years ago.
Juarez Homicide Totals In Recent Years 2009: 2,626 2008: 1,609 2007: 353
Related Links:Link:Video Captures Juarez Bomb Explosion As Medics Tend To Injured ManLink:Special Report Part 1: Comparing Colombia’s Past Drug War To Juarez’s Current ViolenceLink:Special Report Part 2: Juarez Leaders Hope Youth Programs, Facilities Will Help End ViolenceLink:Special Report Part 3: Juarez Models Military, Police Changes After Colombian Tactics
