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MEXICO VIOLENCE
ROBERTO CARLOS BENAVIDES STABBING
Army finds weapons in battle’s wake
Murder arrest
THE ZAPATA TIMES
NUEVO LAREDO — Mexico’s Secretariat of National Defense, or Sedena, confirmed the deaths of 13 presumed cartel hitmen in Nuevo Laredo, on Thursday, in a press release. Three soldiers were wounded in the incident, according to the report. In addition, a federal official who asked to remain anonymous told The Zapata Times that among the dead were Francisco Medina Mejia, nicknamed “El Quemado,” who was said to be in charge of organized crime in the Nuevo Laredo area. The press release said soldiers were following up on intelligence of an organized crime cell on the Mexico II highway, at kilometer 15, when they were reportedly attacked by gunmen. The gunmen approached in several vehicles, firing at the soldiers, the press release said. Sedena said the
soldiers were aided by armed helicopters. Officials said lookouts, known as “halcones,” reportedly blocked intersections to interfere with the military’s operation and to help the gunmen escape. In addition to the deaths of the 13 alleged cartel hitmen, Sedena said soldiers confiscated 12 large-caliber firearms; a loaded rocketpropelled grenade launcher; and a grenade for a 40mm weapon. Soldiers also found an unspecified number of magazines for several bullet calibers and loose bullets in several calibers, and a package containing a white dust with the characteristics of cocaine. They also confiscated three vehicles, one of which was armored. Other gunbattles reportedly took place throughout Thursday night and Friday morning to the southwest of the city, but the military has not released details on those incidents.
Court documents: Victim wanted ‘intimacy’ By JJ VELASQUEZ LAREDO MORNING TIMES
A relative of the Laredo man arrested this week in connection with the February murder at a home on Cuatro Vientos Drive revealed to local investigators a possible motive in the stabbing death, according to court documents. A criminal complaint filed Feb. 15 with the 49th District Court states Luis Jimenez, whom federal authorities in San Diego ar-
rested Wednesday in connection with the murder, allegedly confessed to his female cousin that he stabbed Roberto Carlos Benavides because Benavides “wanted to be intimate with him.” On Feb. 9, Benavides was found dead, his face down against his bed, with wounds on his face and neck area, according to the court documents. Police were unable to clarify the vague wording Friday as the case is ongo-
ing, said Investigator Joe Baeza, a spokesman for the Laredo Police Department. Benavides’ mother, Maria Herlinda Benavides, also declined to comment on the claims made in the court documents because the case is awaiting trial, and her comments could be used against her in court. Maria Herlinda said in a statement that was emailed to Laredo Morning Times: “Keep in mind that my Robert is the victim. Al-
ways remember him the way he lived and not the way he died.”
Background On the morning of Feb. 9, police responded to a call at 3510 Cuatro Vientos Drive after Maria Herlinda found her son dead in his bedroom. Maria Herlinda arrived at her son’s home that
See ARREST PAGE 7A
ZAPATA COUNTY FAIR
ROYALTY SPREADS WORD ABOUT THE FAIR
49TH DISTRICT COURT
Cattle at center of pharmacist’s indictment THE ZAPATA TIMES
A grand jury sitting in Zapata has indicted Francisco Rodriguez III in connection with an alleged incident of cattle rustling. Rodriguez is the former owner of Rodriguez Pharmacy. Information in the indictment alleges that Rodriguez “acquired property, namely cattle, valued less than
$100,000” on June 13. The single transaction occurred without the consent of the livestock’s owner, Jose Luis Gonzalez, documents state. According to the indictment filed in November, Rodriguez faces one count of theft of livestock. An arraignment is scheduled for Rodriguez in the 49th District Court in Zapata County on Wednesday.
Photo by Danny Zaragoza | The Zapata Times
Zapata County Fair’s first runner-up, Alyssa Jo Gutierrez, 2012 Queen Sofia Regalado and second runner-up Rebecca R. Quintanilla visited The Zapata Times/Laredo Morning Times offices on Wednesday afternoon. See the Zapata County Fair tabloid in today’s paper.
US FOREIGN POLICY
Interview: Obama says he’s not bluffing on attack By MARK S. SMITH AND ANNE GEARAN ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama warned that he is not bluffing about attacking Iran if it builds a nuclear weapon, but in an interview published Friday, Obama also cautioned U.S. ally Israel that a premature
attack on Iran would do more harm than good. In his most expansive remarks on the issue thus far, Obama told The Atlantic magazine that Iran and Israel both understand that “a military component” is among a mix of many options for dealing with Iran, along with sanctions and
diplomacy. That is the most direct threat he has issued during months of escalating tension with Iran over its disputed nuclear development program. His comments appeared aimed more at Israel and its supporters in the United States than at Iran. Obama addresses the influential American Israel
Public Affairs Committee on Sunday and meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Monday at the White House. Netanyahu will also address AIPAC. “I think that the Israeli government recognizes that, as president of the United States, I don’t bluff,” he said in the inter-
view. “I also don’t, as a matter of sound policy, go around advertising exactly what our intentions are. But (both) governments recognize that when the United States says it is unacceptable for Iran to have a nuclear weapon, we mean what we say.”
See IRAN PAGE 7A