Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua — The search for escaped prisoners from the Ciudad Juárez prison has reportedly resulted in the death of two officers. Two ministerial officers were killed Monday while two others were injured during the search for the escaped inmates from Cereso No. 3 in Ciudad Juárez.
During the search operation, a confrontation erupted between state security forces and armed individuals. A total of seven people were killed. The two deceased officers have not been named. The two injured officers were taken to hospital and are reported as stable.
The armed attacks occurred on January 2 when elements of the State Investigation Agency (AEI) carried out security tours in a city subdivision in search of the prisoners who escaped from the prison the day before.
A group of individuals aboard several vehicles intercepted them and opened fire on the uniformed officers. The Chihuahua Prosecutor’s Office reported the foregoing generated an exchange of bullets that left two ministerial agents dead as well as two others injured.
On Sunday morning, an armed attack started a riot inside the Social Reintegration (Cereso) No. 3 of Ciudad Juárez, which left 17 dead and 27 escapees on the run. One of those who escaped has been identified as Ernesto Alfredo Piñón de la Cruz, leader of an area criminal gang who was serving more than 200 years in prision after being arrested in 2009.
