By Erin Gallagher on 05/23/2015

Reports from Mexico yesterday indicate that federal police may have committed another massacre. We have heard conflicting numbers as to how many victims there are in the northwestern area of the state of Michoacan. So far most Mexican media outlets are reporting 42 civilians and 1 police officer killed. Those numbers are subject to change – it seems customary for confusing and conflicting accounts to surface online when a terrible crime has occurred in Mexico. Federal police claim the victims were armed cartel members and engaged the federal police after a traffic stop.

The disproportionate number of casualties is unusual for police forces engaging in a gunfight with a large group of cartel members.

Mexican citizens expressed instant skepticism on social media regarding the official police account. The official account shows many similarities to other massacres that have occurred in the past year in which Mexican security forces have been implicated. 22 people were killed in Tlatlaya in June 2014, 43 students from Ayotzinapa were disappeared in September 2014 and most recently 16 people were killed in Apatzingan where investigative reports released in April directly contradicted the original police account given in January 2015.

The deadly confrontation allegedly began on a highway near the community of Tinaja de Vargas, located in the municipality of Tanhuato, and appears to have continued to the Rancho El Sol, which is three kilometers away, near the town of Ecuandureo. Conflicting accounts have circulated regarding the exact locations of the shootouts so we will continue to monitor and update as information becomes available. So far all images that are circulating in social media seem to be taken at the ranch. We are unsure if there were victims at the highway location.

In an interview with Lopez-Dóriga, Tanhuato Mayor, Jose Ignacio Cuevas said he has very little information about what happened and said that the cell phone signal has been down for 2-3 days in Tanhuato. The mayor said the only information he has received has been via social networks. Mayor Cuevas also indicated that he had no information regarding who owns the property at Rancho El Sol.

The disproportionate number of casualties is unusual for police forces engaging in a gunfight with a large group of cartel members.

Below are all of the photos we’ve seen so far circulating in social media. Some victims have weapons next to or laying on top of their bodies. Some of the dead appear to have been unarmed.

Rancho del Sol is a large property measuring 112 hectares (276 acres) and includes a house and a warehouse. The warehouse and six vehicles burned during the gunfight. It is possible some people from the ranch fled into neighboring fields but we are unaware if there are any survivors besides 3 people arrested and taken into custody. Reports today indicate heavy police presence still in the area with 500 federal police and military units guarding the ranch.

Articles from Mexican media as well as US/UK/Middle East media are reporting the victims in Tanhuato were “alleged members of Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG)” and we would like to stress at this point that we have no idea if that is true or who these victims were. Members of the Comisión Nacional de los Derechos Humanos (National Human Rights Commission – CNDH) were sent to the area yesterday to investigate and the bodies are being sent to the Forensic Medical Service of Morelia. We will continue to follow and update with information as it becomes available.

Sources:
Lopez-Dóriga
Aristegui Noticias
Telesur

http://revolution-news.com/mexico-massacre-in-tanhuato-leaves-over-40-dead-graphic-photos/