By Marisela Ortega Lozano
El Paso Times
JUAREZ, Mexico - A police captain was gunned down Wednesday morning after ending his shift at the Benito Juárez police station, according to the Juárez Department of Public Safety.
Several gunmen shot Jose Manuel Rivas Lopez, 41, after storming into his home in the 1103 block of Joaquin Soto Mendoza and Teniente Daniel Garcia streets, Chihuahua’s general attorney said.
The victim, riddled with bullets, was found dead in the living room, authorities said Thursday. Forensic staff members recovered 64 bullet casings.
According to an unconfirmed report, Mexican federal police officers arrested two suspects in connection with the shooting.
Forty Juárez police officers have been killed since Mayor Hector Murguia took office on Oct. 10, 2010. Fourteen officers have been ambushed this year, according to the Department of Public Safety.
Rivas Lopez joined the police force on January 2001 and was overseeing the night shift at the Benito Juárez police station, Juárez officials said.
Officials said they believe an increase in arrests is triggering the violence against police officers. Police said the number of arrests has increased by 300 percent during the past two months.
“There is no doubt that the increase of people taken into custody for several offenses has trigged retaliation against our officers,” said Adrian Sanchez, Juárez police department spokesman.
“Those arrested try often to bribe the officers with cars or cash, or they threaten them, but the police turn down those offers,” Sanchez added. “Just for wearing a police uniform, our officers are at a high risk, and they are aware of that.”