3 Kidnappers Killed Outside of Prosecutor's Offices In Magdalena, Sonora

"HEARST" for Borderland Beat

Three cartel members were killed in a confrontation with members of the Ministerial Criminal Investigation Agency (AMIC) when they attempted to kidnap a person in the town of Magdalena de Kino, in the state of Sonora. 

Warning: Graphic photos below this point. 

On the night of October 28, 2021, a group of armed men attempted to deprive a person of his freedom, but the victim managed to reach the facilities of the Sonora Attorney General's Office (FGJE), which are located in the Fátima neighborhood of Magdalena de Kino, and ask for help. 

In the press releases, it is unclear how the victim was able to arrive at the offices of the FGJE. It is also unclear if the armed men had simply threatened the victim earlier or if they had begun to take him by force but he managed to escape.  A video, seen below, allegedly depicts the group of armed men. 

Video Source: @vagoner35

At approximately 11:00 pm, the armed men arrived at FGJE facilities and according to a Tribuna article, the men “tried to steal a person from the offices.” A confrontation broke out between the group and AMIC agents on a street outside. The shootout led to the death of three of the cartel members. All three reportedly died on scene, before the arrival of paramedics. 

Photo Credit: Columna de Viveros

It is presumed that the other armed men seen in the video escaped, as no arrests were announced as part of the press release. A FGJE statement put out today alleges they were “all members of a criminal group in the region.” 

All three of the deceased have been identified by law enforcement. They are: Jesús Ramón 'N', alias “El Pilinqui”, 36 years old, Julio César 'N' , 20 years old, and a 17 year old minor whose identity cannot be legally disclosed. 

El Pilinqui is suspected of being involved in a series of recent homicides and attempted homicides. An arrest warrant had been issued for El Pilinqui based on evidence that he was involved in the execution of José Saúl Martínez Trillas who was the head of the AMIC in the town of Sáric, Sonora. This story was covered by MX in an article here. 

Crime scene of Martínez Trillas execution.

The armed attack that killed José Martínez Martínez Trillas occurred at 5:50 pm at night on July 30, 2021 in Magdalena de Kino, near the exit to Tubutama, where the La Industria gas station is located. Martínez Trillas was reportedly on leave and he was traveling the city of Hermosillo to spend a few vacation days there when he was attacked. Milenio newspaper writes that the agent was “surprised by several men while driving through the San Isidro neighborhood aboard his white Ford Explorer SUV.” 

Crime scene of Martínez Trillas execution.

Martínez Trillas was 49 years old at the time of his death and he had 28 years of public service. He used to be one of the leading police sketch artists in Sonora, expertly drawing out portraits of a suspect as victims describe the facial features of the perpetrator of their attack. These composite sketches are now created digitally, phasing out Martínez Trillas’ expertise in the area but he was nonetheless known for leadership, becoming the head of the Sáric AMIC office. Radar Sonora reports he was about to retire. 

Crime scene of Martínez Trillas execution.

El Pilinqui is also suspected in the homicide and attempted homicide of Orlando Uriel and Irving Andrés, which occurred on October 4, 2021. Few further details on the October 4 incident are available. 

The FGJE statement reports that they suspect El Pilinqui was involved in the Orlando Uriel and Irving Andrés crimes because “evidence collected that night determined that Jesus Ramon ‘N’ allegedly used a .40 caliber firearm, after Thursday's confrontation a pistol was found next to his body, Forensic Ballistics tests were performed and its use against the two victims was determined.” 

Cartel Landscape of the Area 

In the last few months, the region around Magdalena de Kino has been plagued by violence from an internal dispute between two factions of the Sinaloa Cartel. 

Magdalena has long been the territory of one of El Mayo's top lieutenants named Sergio Valenzuela Valenzuela, alias "El Gigio", who leads Los Gigios, a Sinaloa Cartel faction based out of Nogales. El Gigio works closely with Leonardo Pineda Armenta, alias "El 20" or "El Nayo", his second-in-command and right hand man. They are contested primarily by members of Los Salazars, who are loyal to the Los Chapitos side of the Sinaloa Cartel. 

One of the seized firearms, a Smith & Wesson SD40 VE

Two more seized firearms, one is a AKMS style firearm, the other a M4 style carbine, appears to be 10.5" barrel

Sources: FGJE Official Tweet, FGJE Official Statement, El Universal, UniRadioInforma, Canal Sonora, La Silla Rota, Dario Valor, El Sol de Hermosillo, Pulso SLP, Tribuna, Expreso 

José Saúl Martínez Trillas Sources: FGJE official statement, Milenio, Today.in-24, Borderland Beat,  Expreso, Radar Sonora, La Opinion 

Further Reading: 

Execution of José Martínez Martínez Trillas