Fifty gunshot wounds and a completely dismembered and burned body are some of the details revealed by forensic investigations into the massacre of agents of the Antimaras and Gangs Police Directorate against Organized Crime (Dipampco), in Honduras.
The Dipampco agents were at the scene and were carrying out a high-impact operation against a criminal structure linked to drug trafficking, when they were surprised by heavily armed men who were guarding the main objective of the operation, in a home in Corinto.
According to Honduran authorities, the police were outnumbered by the criminals and then deprived of their liberty by members of the criminal group.
The agents were taken to a mountainous area of Omoa, Cortés, where they were finally executed.
According to official reports cited by the media Infobaethe bodies were stacked on top of each other and showed strong signs of violence, in a scene described by Honduran authorities as “one of the most violent recently recorded against police officers” in that country.
What were the forensic findings?
Forensic investigations revealed details about the level of violence the officers suffered.
Forensic Medicine authorities confirmed that one of the bodies had at least 50 bullet wounds, while another was completely dismembered, decapitated and partially burned.
This situation complicated the identification process of the agents.
The bodies remain in the San Pedro Sula morgue, where specialists carry out the corresponding autopsies and identification processes.
So far, authorities have identified agents Lester Josué Amador Herrera, Leonel Alejandro Valdez Núñez, Dailin Francisco Elvir Quintanilla, Nels Makley Eguigure Benavídez and Emerson Josué Canales Fúnez.
According to Infobaeone of the corpses examined reflected an extreme level of violence and, due to the state of the remains, the authorities reported that they are working with fingerprints and scientific analysis to fully confirm the identity of all the victims.
Following the case, Honduras suspended the director, deputy director and head of Operations of Dipampco while investigations are carried out to establish responsibilities for alleged failures in the procedure.
Alert for Guatemala
Honduran authorities maintain coordination with Guatemala, due to suspicions that several members of the criminal structure escaped to Guatemalan territory.
Meanwhile, on Friday, May 22, Guatemalan authorities They confirmed the capture of two Honduran citizens gunshot wounds who remained in a hospital in Puerto Barrios, Izabal, near the border with Honduras, and who were possibly related to the case.
The detainees, identified as José Guardado Herrera, 21, and Eli Naún Guerra, 44, remain in custody while investigations and coordination between both countries continue to determine their possible relationship with the armed attack.
The National Civil Police indicated that the two men came from the village of Corinto, Honduras, and were located at the healthcare center after the attack that occurred on Thursday.
Investigations also point to possible connections between the criminal structure and groups related to the Jalisco Nueva Generación cartel (CJNG).