Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico – A violent raid carried out by Mexican authorities to arrest the son of notorious Mexican drug cartel leader Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzmán resulted in the deaths of 30 people. The intense fighting between suspected Sinaloa drug cartel gunmen and Mexican troops erupted on January 5, 2023. Both sides engaged in open gunfire, with the military sending in Black Hawk helicopters to attack a convoy of cartel vehicles. Additionally, cartel members allegedly attacked military and civilian aircraft at the city’s international airport and even attempted to kidnap doctors at local hospitals to treat wounded fighters.
The battle killed 30 people, including 10 military personnel and one Culiacan police officer. At least 17 police officers and 35 military personnel were wounded in the running shoot-outs. Ovidio Guzmán, the son of El Chapo, was a leader of a Sinaloa faction called “Los Menores” or “the Juniors,” also known as “Los Chapitos,” for the sons of El Chapo. He, along with his brothers, allegedly continued managing their father’s business and steered the cartel into synthetic drugs like methamphetamine and the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl.
Following this tragic event, news emerged from Mexico that four American citizens were kidnapped in the country. Washington McGee, Eric Williams, Shaeed Woodard, and Zindell Brown were kidnapped on March 3, 2023, after they had reportedly traveled from Brownsville, Texas, to Matamoros, Tamaulipas, to accompany one of the travelers planning to receive surgery. Unfortunately, the Americans found themselves in the crossfire of rival cartels shortly after crossing the U.S. border.
Reports also surfaced from Germany about a mass shooting at a Jehovah’s Witnesses center in Hamburg, which left seven people, including an unborn child, dead. The gunman, identified as Phillip F., fired over 100 rounds in a solo attack during a service in the house of worship, causing chaos and tragedy.
Horrific crimes also emerged in Kenya, where Kenyan police recovered hundreds of bodies associated with a Christian cult known as the Good News International Church. These bodies were found in mass graves in the coastal county of Kilifi, as the cult believed that they would meet Jesus Christ if they starved themselves to death.
In the United Kingdom, a nurse was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of murdering seven babies in a British hospital neonatal unit. Lucy Letby was also convicted of attempting to kill six other babies. The prosecution described Letby as a “devious,” “calculating,” and “cold-blooded” killer for allegedly murdering a total of 17 babies during a yearlong killing spree.
It’s clear that these appalling crimes around the world have left a trail of devastation. As we reflect on these tragic events, it’s crucial to remember the importance of justice and the preciousness of human life.