10/09/2010

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras – The killing of 18 in a shoe factory in the city of San Pedro Sula likely was an attempt to slay those who sympathize with a rival gang, yet none of the deceased had a criminal record, authorities said. Gunmen armed with AK-47s stormed the building and began shooting, killing 18, including the owner’s 26-year-old son. The owner, however, was not present at the time of the massacre. “A group from one gang went to the place to eliminate sympathizers from another gang,” Security Minister Óscar Álvarez said in an interview with The Associated Press. “Out of respect for the families of the victims, I’m not saying those killed were gangsters, but they were friends with some gang members.” Álvarez said the victims were between 15 and 35 years old – and their relatives said they had never been the targets of gang threats. “He didn’t mess with anyone,” Melania Contreras, whose lone son, 19-year-old Julio Contreras, was killed, said in an interview with Channel 5. Reyna Pineda, whose two adult nephews were killed, said “nobody expected this tragedy,” according to media reports. Álvarez said law enforcement officials have identified two suspects among the five gunmen in the shooting, but none of the suspects have been taken into custody. It was the nation’s worst gang killing since gunmen killed 28 when they sprayed a bus filled with passengers in the city of Chamelecón in December 2004. [El Universal.com (Colombia), 09/09/2010; La Prensa.com (Honduras), 08/09/2010; EFE (Honduras), 09/09/2010]