Chetumal, Q.R. — The State Attorney General (FGE) says an investigation has been started into the killing of a civilian by military. The incident happened Thursday morning in the city of Chetumal where a man armed with a knife was reported.
The armed man was reported to police by his coworkers after missing a shift then showing up at his place of work visibly agitated. At work, he allegedly tried to attack his fellow coworkers with a knife.
Municipal Police and Mexican Navy personnel were sent to the scene where they found the armed man on a rooftop. He was located on top of a commercial building on Marciano González Street.
At the scene, a member of the Navy shot him as he lunged toward authorities with his knife. The man, 28 year old Misael “N”, died in the ambulance on the way to hospital.
“The Quintana Roo State Attorney General’s Office (FGE Quintana Roo) reports the opening of an investigation in Chetumal, in the municipality of Othón P. Blanco, following the death of a man who was allegedly under the influence of illicit substances,” the FGE said.
“Initial investigations indicate that the deceased did not report to work during his regular hours, later arriving at his workplace in an impaired state where he grabbed a knife and began to disturb the peace.
“Employees at the workplace called 911. Upon the arrival of members of the Mexican Navy and the Municipal Police, the man attempted to attack a naval officer, who, in order to protect himself and repel the attack, discharged his service weapon once, wounding the assailant, who later died.
“The State Attorney General’s Office will conduct the corresponding investigations to clarify the facts and determine responsibility, with strict adherence to the law and full respect for due process. Zero Impunity”
The Mexican Navy also released a statement that the use of lethal force was legitimate, with the sole objective of defending the life of a municipal police officer who was about to be stabbed.
According to their statement, “naval personnel assigned to support public safety efforts responded to a direct report from the Command, Control, Communications, and Computing Center (C5).
“The citizen alert warned of a highly aggressive male individual carrying a knife and threatening pedestrians and business owners from the rooftop of a building. The uniformed officers located him on the roof of a commercial establishment.
“The Eleventh Naval Zone reported that a municipal police officer assigned to the operation attempted to contain the situation directly, however, the man carrying the bladed weapon ignored verbal commands and suddenly and violently attacked the officer.
“Seeing the imminent threat to the officer’s life and safety, a marine reacted tactically and, in full compliance with international protocols for the legitimate use of force, discharged his service weapon to neutralize the lethal threat.
“As a result of the defensive fire, the assailant was injured at the scene. Although emergency personnel provided immediate first aid, the individual died later while being transported by ambulance to the general hospital.”
The FGE is conducting the corresponding investigations.
