by Michael Webster
NWS Columnist

Federal officials said the team of shooters were tipped off that people attending the birthday party were members of a rival gang known as Artistas Asesinos (Artists Assassins), who reportedly work for the Joaquín "Chapo" Guzmán drug cartel from Sinaloa.

El Paso/ Juárez Metroplex- Relatives of the 16 victims killed in a birthday party massacre in Juárez recently contacted an attorney in the United States seeking asylum.

El Paso Immigration lawyer Carlos Spector told reporters that survivors of the Juarez birthday party massacre and members of their families come to El Paso and met with him and "are exploring their options, including seeking asylum."

He said a well-founded fear of persecution would be a good reason for them to seek asylum because family members have begun to criticize the government of Mexico and Juárez.

"They are angry at the government. Not one has been interviewed by police. No one from the government has talked to them, and that's straight from the horse's mouth," said Spector.

Spector, who refused to name the relatives of the victims, said that as they continue to criticize the Mexican government and should the government take action against them, they would than perhaps qualify for asylum in the U.S. Other lawyers contacted by the U.S. Border Fire Report said that would be to late and the mere fear of retaliation by the government and Mexican drug cartels may be enough to merit at least a hearing on the matter.

Mexican drug cartel gunmen estimated to have been 24 or more stormed a birthday party in Juarez killing at least 16 people and wounding 12 others here out to kill ravel Mexican drug cartel gang members. Police reported that night the attackers used AK 47’s and AR 15 assault weapons to mow down those killed that night.

Mexican Federal officials told reporters recently that an El Paso man, whom they identified only as "Ramon, El 12 or El Rama," was the mastermind behind the killings.  However the alleged suspect last week was shot and killed in a shootout with Mexican soldiers.

Mean time Mexican federal police claim they have arrested a second man in connection to the Juárez massacre they report his name to be Israel Arzate Meléndez, also know as "El 24" or "el country, He has allegedly told police that he shot a 37-year-old man late on the night of Jan. 30 while he was guarding outside a home where the party was taking place. Police had identified that died man as Manuel Hernández Villegas.  Arzate Meléndez was watching out for Adrian Ramírez, as he and others where inside the party killing people Police said.

Details in police reports about the massacre have been inconsistent.

El Paso Times reported that Police said that Adrián Ramírez led the group of shooters working for the Juárez drug cartel La Linea. They initially released the names of 16 people killed. One day later, authorities said they were not sure it was Ramirez but the assailant was "Ramon" and said there were only 15 victims had died.

The brutality of the assault moved Juárez and Chihuahua state officials to offer a reward of 1 million pesos -- about $76,000 USD-- for information about the killing.

It is now known that 16 died. The youngest was a 13-year-old girl, and oldest was a 42-year-old man.

Today, police again said the name of the leader is Adrián Ramírez, who was killed in a shootout with soldiers on Monday.

Federal officials said the team of shooters were tipped off that people attending the birthday party were members of a rival gang known as Artistas Asesinos (Artists Assassins), who reportedly work for the Joaquín "Chapo" Guzmán drug cartel from Sinaloa. Officials said some of the victims were indeed gang members, but most of those killed were identified as students and athletes.

More details released Tuesday revealed that the attackers initially did not mean to kill some of the women and children, until the leader Ramírez said "parejo a todos," which roughly translates to give the same treatment to all.

Mexican authorities have identified three more suspects and issued arrest warrants.

Police arrested José Dolores Arroyo Chavarría last Monday for his involvement in the massacre as the "halcón," which means lookout. But more that 20 shooters remain at large.

Sources:

El Paso Times
El Paso Journal
Juarez Police
Mexican Federal Police
Mexican Military
DEA
Mexican Newspapers

By Michael Webster: Syndicated Investigative Reporter. Feb 7, 2010 at 2:30 PM PST

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