A Mexican cartel has claimed responsibility for the murders of two Americans earlier this week and has written a letter apologizing for the offense.
From Fox:
A letter purportedly from the Mexican cartel allegedly behind the kidnapping and subsequent killing of Americans last week claimed it has dealt with the members "involved and responsible" for the incident, handing them over for authorities to detain.
"We have decided to turn over those who were directly involved and responsible in the events, who at all times acted under their own decision-making and lack of discipline," the letter from the Gulf Cartel, reviewed by The Associated Press, states.
A photograph of five men face down on the pavement and bound accompanied the letter. The letter also apologized to residents of Matamoros, Mexico, where the kidnapping occurred, and for the death of an innocent Mexican woman during the incident.
Ganglands, like those throughout Mexico, are a serious danger to those living there, those visiting, and those who live on the American side of the Mexican border. These types of incidents occur with frequency in cartel-controlled areas.
The letter stressed the individuals responsible for the kidnapping and murder had gone against the cartel's rules, which include "respecting the life and well-being of the innocent."
I'm sorry, but I have a hard time believing in this level of honor among thieves south of the border. It sounds like they knew they messed with Americans and so they're doing whatever it takes to keep from paying the consequences.
The document includes details of the Americans, including drug-related convictions against two of the members, which the Mexican government allegedly argued makes it possible the Americans "could be directly linked to drug trafficking operations."
The four Americans have been identified as LaTavia McGee, Shaeed Woodard, Eric Williams and Zindell Brown, all of South Carolina. The FBI has said it cannot identify the survivors, but McGee and Williams have been identified by their families as the survivors, and Mexican officials confirmed Woodard and Brown as the deceased.
U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland on Tuesday blamed the drug cartels for the incident, and he promised that the DEA and FBI "are doing everything possible to dismantle and disrupt and ultimately prosecute the leaders of the cartels and the entire networks that they depend on."
This is a real tragedy, and now that we know the responsible parties, I hope that the Biden DOJ will look into holding the cartels responsible.
But I'm not holding my breath.
