**Family Members of Former CJNG Leader Executed in Tecate**
On Sunday morning, a tragic event unfolded on the Tecate-Mexicali highway, near kilometer 111, when a man and a woman, believed to be mother and son, were brutally killed. The incident took place around 10:30 AM when armed individuals in a pickup and an SUV pursued the victims’ vehicle, a black Chevrolet Equinox, causing it to overturn.
Upon halting, the attackers exited their vehicles and fired more than 15 shots at the overturned SUV, targeting the hood, roof, and sides with .223 caliber firearms. The two adults inside, reportedly the mother and brother of Ismael Gómez Sierra, known as “El Chiquilín”—a former municipal police officer and leader of the CJNG in Tecate—were declared dead at the scene. Ismael Gómez had previously been found deceased on January 2, 2025, in his prison cell at the Hongo Center.
In addition to the fatalities, a 17-year-old girl who was inside the SUV suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was rushed to a hospital for treatment.
The local authorities have temporarily closed the area to ensure public safety, and residents are advised to steer clear while forensic teams, arriving from Tijuana, conduct investigations.
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**Secondary Article – Surge in Violence Linked to Cartel Conflicts**
In recent months, Baja California has seen a worrying rise in violence linked to cartel activities. Local law enforcement and analysts attribute the increase to power struggles within and between criminal organizations. The execution of family members related to the CJNG leadership is just one of several violent acts affecting the region.
Authorities are under increasing pressure to deploy more resources and coordinate with federal agencies to curb this wave of violence. However, the complexity of cartel dynamics presents a formidable challenge, as the groups involved continue to retaliate and assert dominance. Residents are urged to remain vigilant and cooperate with law enforcement to ensure their communities’ safety.
Efforts to introduce more sophisticated measures and deepen cross-border collaborations with the United States are ongoing, as officials aim to disrupt the networks fueling this instability.