[imagesource: Twitter / @c4jimenez]

If the horror of what is happening in Ukraine isn’t quite enough, then turn your attention to Mexico’s cartel battles.

In the state of Michoacán, where the longest-running war is between the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel or CJNG, led by a notorious kingpin known as El Mencho, and an alliance of groups known as the United Cartels, another violent chapter has been added.

The battle on the front lines is littered with bodies and video from Sunday shows just how scant the regard for human life really is.

VICE reports:

The execution in broad daylight on a public street in San José de Gracia, about 350 miles from Mexico City, is a reminder of how violent the western state of Michoacán has become, which is one of the frontlines of Mexico’s roiling crime wars. It also highlights the brazen modus operandi of organized crime groups and the government’s lack of control around the country.

It’s believed that 17 people were killed by at least five gunmen.

Footage filmed a house further down the block captured the moment gunfire erupted.

A warning that this footage, widely shared on social media, is very disturbing:

MI MÉXICO
Comando armado irrumpe en velorio, saca a un grupo de personas, las coloca pegadas a la pared… y las fusila.
Se habla de unas17 personas asesinadas.
Sucedió en San José de Gracia, #Michoacán
Dice @SSeguridad_Mich q ya patrulla con @SEDENAmx y @GN_MEXICO_ pic.twitter.com/frmL4uuA6s

— Carlos Jiménez (@c4jimenez) February 28, 2022

Confirmation of the number of deaths has been made rather difficult because the gunmen cleaned the scene, washed the sidewalk, and took away the bodies.

According to The Guardian, investigators “found only a bag full of brains and shell casings at the scene”:

The attack on Sunday occurred outside a funeral service for the mother of an alleged hitman for the Jalisco New Generation cartel…

The chief prosecutor of Michoacán state said members of the rival gang went to the funeral looking for the hitman, who authorities identified only by his first name, Alejandro.

State prosecutor Adrián López Solís said that the hitman apparently died at the scene and that any other bodies were piled into pickup trucks and carted off by the attackers.

López Solís added that although the attack took place just a few blocks from the town hall, where three police officers were on duty, they did not have “sufficient force” to intervene.

With the video showing multiple vehicles and gunmen involved in the execution, that’s tough to argue against.

[sources:vice&guardian]