05/23/11 – A few days after his retirement from the armed services, General Jorge Juárez Loera was killed Saturday after being shot twice at the scene of a car accident. The accident occurred in Tlalnepantla, in the state of Mexico, after which Juárez Loera got out of his vehicle to approach the scene. He then suffered two pistol shots, one to the skull and the other to the cheek, reported Milenio.
Juárez Loera was a key figure in the Mexican Army and in President Felipe Calderón’s anti-drug strategy. He became the third highest ranking member of the Army with his appointments as Inspector and Controller of the Mexican Army in 2008, and as the Oficial Mayor in 2009, which is the position that provides administrative support on human and material resources to government offices. Before 2008, Juárez Loera was in charge of Joint Operation Chihuahua, part of the government’s anti-narcotics efforts in the states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, and Durango.
The Attorney General’s Office (Procuraduría General de la República, PGR) is investigating the case and continues to search for suspects and motives. Authorities have not yet indicated whether or not Juárez Loera was deliberately targeted. The General had been driving in a personal car wearing civilian clothes when he was murdered. According to Milenio, his body was taken to the PGR’s Tlalnepantla office for further investigation.
Sources:
“Ejecutan a Jorge Juárez Loera, oficial mayor del Ejército Méxicano.” Milenio. May 21, 2011.
“Lomas de Sotelo, D.F., a 21 de mayo de 2011.” Sedena. May 21, 2011.
“Mexican army general Jorge Juarez Loera shot dead.” BBC News. May 22, 2011.
“PGR atrae indagatoria por homicidio de general.” El Universal. May 22, 2011.
