Gang Violence Leaves 1 Dead and a Catholic Church Full of Bullet Holes later a Priest Rescues 3 Abandoned Children from the Scene



A parish priest of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe, in the municipality of Guachochi, described the community of Santa Anita after the shooting on June 5th at the town church, whose façade and interior received hundreds of bullets. The damage to the church was caused by a confrontation between two armed criminal groups, and according to the police authorities, a grenade and AR-15 and AK-47 rifle cartridges were found, as well as a burnt-out van and a headless man.

 The priest Enrique Urzúa, who arrived at the community of Santa Anita after recording the attack, recorded a video from inside the compound that was posted on Facebook. It has as a background several religious images that were placed on a wall with bullet holes. He also shared the photograph of the image of Nuestra Señora de los Dolores lying on the floor and with the protective glass broken, as a result of the armed attack that caused the flight of a large part of the residents. According to Religiondigital.org, The priest found there and rescued three children of different ages 1, 9, and 11, abandoned, whom he took with him to the Cathedral.The Catholic bishops of Mexico also released a statement on the attack: "At the Conference of the Mexican Episcopate, with deep pain and indignation, we unite in communion with the entire community of Santa Anita, in the municipality of Guachochi, Chihuahua, who live with insecurity and uncertainty.
In the midst of so much death and crime in the country, we publicly condemn this situation and demand an end to the violence."
The State Attorney General’s office of Chihuahua stated that "On the outskirts of the community church, a lifeless body of an unidentified male person, approximately 35 years old, was found, who presented gunshot wounds and separation of the cephalic extremity. He was wearing green military clothing, black tactical boots, and a black belt. The church, as well as two uninhabited houses, had various impacts from a firearm projectile. The following was confirmed at the scene: a pick up truck, Chevrolet brand, completely burned and
over 700 weapon bullet casings.
 
 The Jesuits also released the following on the incident:
Violence continues in the Sierra Tarahumara - June 7, 2023
Mexico City, June 7, 2023.- The Society of Jesus in Mexico deeply regrets the acts of violence that occurred last Monday, June 5 in Santa Anita, Guachochi, Chihuahua, where a church was fired upon and one person was murdered. causing deep fear among the residents, who until now are in a state of defenselessness.
 A few days after the first anniversary of the murder of two Jesuit priests Javier and Joaquín in the temple of Cerocahui, Urique, the Sierra Tarahumara once again experiences another attack on its sacred spaces in the mountainous area in southern Chihuahua.
 The Jesuits of Mexico ask the different levels of government to intervene to restore tranquility and peace to the communities. We join the call of Father Enrique Urzúa, parish priest of the Guachochi Cathedral: “To the state and federal authorities to take charge of this, to take their role. Let them do their job and I pray that God grants them the wisdom to do their job, to defend the communities; This attack on the temple is an attack on the entire community.”
We insist on the desire for peace and the need to rebuild the social fabric in the Sierra Tarahumara.
Mexican Province of the Society of Jesus.
Sources: https://jesuitasmexico.org/blog/2023/06/07/la-violencia-continua-en-la-sierra-tarahumara/
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