For a map, click here. For a map of Durango state, click here.
A total of three unidentified individuals have been killed in an armed confrontation in the mountains of western Durango, according to several Mexican news reports.
According to data supplied in a news account which appeared in the online edition of El Siglo de Durango, the shootout took place in Otaez municipality Saturday.
According to the account, a road patrol detachment of the Mexican 10th Military Zone encountered a group of armed suspects at a location between the villages of Macho Bayo and Huajupa, and attempted to stop them. Instead the unit was fired on, forcing return fire by soldiers.
Two armed suspects were killed. They were identified as Jesus Andres Nuñez Sarabia, 26, and Juan Francisco Núñez Ortiz, 18. Presumably more suspects were at the scene but escaped.
The soldier who was killed in the encounter was not identified in any of the news accounts. It is said he was 28 years old.
Separately, according to statistics compiled by editorial personnel of El Siglo de Durango, to date 21 security personnel from local, state and federal agencies have died since January. A total of 16 were murdered, with the rest involved in accidents. The total killed in all of 2012 was 54, of which nine were accidents.
Chris Covert writes Mexican Drug War and national political news for Rantburg.com and BorderlandBeat.com. He can be reached at grurkka@gmail.com