Deputy Director Nava Erick Aguilera of the Municipal Police in San Felipe, Baja California along with Commander Norberto Ornelas were shot dead in an ambush on Tuesday evening, while the police chief who accompanied them – Ramón Valdez Salas – was also wounded but survived the armed attack.

The state prosecutor, Iván Carpio, revealed that the initial investigation indicates that the Sinaloa Cartel could possibly be involved with the attack, as tactical gear retrieved from one of the assailants was marked with the number 701 and the acronym JG; well known emblems of the clothing brand created by the family of drug trafficker Joaquín Guzmán Loera, alias “El Chapo”

At a press conference held in Mexicali, the lead prosecutor, Iván Carpio, confirmed that one of the alleged perpetrators was caught and arrested with at least eight men all together having been identified as part of the attack where they surrounded the police commanders in their vehicle, firing on them from close range with high-caliber weapons.

The prosecutor went on to say that he believes the attack was planned and carried out by a criminal cell called “Los Chapitos.”

According to the official report, the ambush occurred at 6:40 PM on Tuesday, September 20, 2022, in San Felipe where the three police officials were aboard a vehicle when they were attacked by at least eight individuals who surrounded them aboard two different vehicles; a Chevrolet Tahoe SUV and a white Dodge RAM pickup.

The attackers descended from their vehicles armed wearing tactical gear and carry high caliber rifles and one handgun, firing on the police commanders from different angles. Nearby the scene were other police elements who quickly responded in an attempt to repel the attack while also calling for additional backup.

Upon being fired upon by the other officers, the attackers abandoned their vehicles and fled on foot, leaving behind the weapons and tactical gear used during the ambush.

Security elements that arrived at the scene found 38 shell casings, in addition to securing more than nine thousand cartridges of various calibers, including 23, 50 and 7.65X39.

10 firearms in total were found on the scene; one handgun and nine automatic rifles including a 50 caliber rife and several AK-47’s in addition to AR15’s in addition to tactical gear and seven bulletproof vests identified with the initials “701” and “JG”.