WARNING: Details of the murders are graphic. National Review reports the victims are American citizens who belong to the fundamentalist Mormon community which settled just across the border in Chihuahua, Mexico in the 1940’s. According to family members of the victims, the three women and six children were “traveling in three separate vehicles on their way to a wedding” in a neighboring Mormon community near the United States border in northern Mexico.
“One child was gunned down as he tried to run away, while others, including two four-month-old twins, were trapped inside a burning car and died.” Amidst the horror, a 13-year-old was able to run away and find help. An infant was also found in their car seat just outside the car, alive.
National Review notes it remains unclear whether the family was targeted specifically, or perhaps the “result of mistaken identity.” Regardless, “Mexico has been wracked by violence” in particular in the past month by drug cartels, “but a mass-slaughter in broad daylight so close to the U.S. border represents a significant escalation.”
President Trump immediately weighed in on twitter, saying: “This is the time for Mexico, with the help of the United States, to wage WAR on the drug cartels and wipe them off the face of the earth. We merely await a call from your great new president!”
This is the time for Mexico, with the help of the United States, to wage WAR on the drug cartels and wipe them off the face of the earth. We merely await a call from your great new president!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 5, 2019
