Investigators suspect the shooting of 14-year-old Briseida Salas Cebrero and her father, Fernando Salas Cortés, 38, in a Cuauhtémoc Ave. hardware store in Acapulco, Mexico on Aug. 11 was a revenge killing. They are connecting it to the July 1997 kidnapping, torture and death of a woman, Concepcion Aguirre, who died even though a ransom was paid.
Two of the father’s companions were also wounded when gunmen fired at the victims from a sports utility vehicle. Brothers of the victim claimed the bodies the day after the shooting. The brothers claim to know of no motive for the shootings, although officials are saying Fernando was implicated in the kidnapping. As part of an earlier investigation into the kidnapping, he and his wife were questioned and released for lack of evidence. The couple had three children, including the daughter who was killed.
This latest shooting is apparently one more incident in the escalation of such events in the violent state of Guerrero, and most likely part of a blood feud between drug gangs, according to police officials there.
Fourteen 9-mm bullets were recovered and are being used in the ongoing investigation. As is usual in cases such as this, it is doubtful anyone will come forward with more information on the shooting. The killing took place two blocks from the main coastal boulevard in the Pacific coast resort.