**Taxi Driver Linked to Tijuana Tourist Police Chief’s Murder Faces Legal Action**
On Monday, August 5, José de Jesús Damián Vadial, a taxi driver allegedly involved in the murder of Tijuana’s Tourist Police Chief, Justo Gutiérrez de la Torre, was formally charged with possession of firearms exclusive to the military. The crime occurred on the night of July 27 in Quinta Marsella.
Authorities found four long guns—two .223 caliber and two .72 caliber—inside a taxi owned by José de Jesús. These weapons have been connected to other crimes. One of the .223 caliber guns was linked to a murder on March 5, 2022, in Tijuana’s Guaycura neighborhood. Another weapon is tied to the February 5, 2021, killings of two individuals in Tecate, with both cases still under investigation.
Police also discovered four bulletproof vests marked with the initials F.E.R., linked to the “Fuerzas Especiales del Ranchero,” a group operating under the Sinaloa Cartel (CDS). This was alongside the standardized police report indicating that during a security operation post-murder, municipal officers found the taxi with the identified long guns, bulletproof vests, and alcoholic beverages in the Tejamen neighborhood.
District Federal Judge Fausto Rolando González Urzais ruled to hold the accused in preventive detention, setting a two-month period for further investigation, set to conclude on October 7.
In his extended testimony, José de Jesús claimed he was arrested after his brother’s birthday celebration while cleaning his yard, citing municipal officers took him into custody without explanation. His partner, Perla Lizeth López Valdés, and neighbors Karla Julieta Valenzuela Sánchez and Ernesto Rubio Hernández supported his account, despite differing on the number of patrol cars involved. The inconsistencies led the Federal General Prosecutor (FGR) to question their reliability, prompting the judge to uphold Vadial’s charges.
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**Additional News on the Tijuana Tourist Police Chief’s Murder**
Further investigations have revealed that the murder of the Tijuana Tourist Police Chief, Justo Gutiérrez de la Torre, is part of a broader violent clash involving various criminal groups in the region. Recent operations have led to arrests of suspects tied to the case, and increased police patrols have been deployed to stabilize the area.
Authorities continue to gather evidence and interview witnesses in a bid to dismantle the violent factions. These efforts aim to not only bring justice for Chief Gutiérrez but also to curb the escalating violence affecting Tijuana’s local and tourist sectors. Community leaders and officials have called for unity and cooperation to restore peace and safety in the city.
Stay with TJGringo.com for the latest updates on this ongoing investigation and other local news.