Tijuana municipal police arrested three suspects, including a 13-year-old and a 15-year-old, after an armed carjacking on Boulevard Gustavo Díaz Ordaz, one of the city’s main commercial corridors near the Zona Río district.
The victim told officers he was held at gunpoint and forced out of his vehicle by the trio. The suspects then fled in the stolen car, heading west. Patrol units located the vehicle on Vía Rápida Poniente, a major freeway that runs through central Tijuana.
Foot Chase Ends With Loaded Pistol Seized
When officers moved to intercept the vehicle, all three suspects abandoned it and ran. Police pursued them on foot and apprehended each one. The 15-year-old was found carrying a loaded 9mm pistol with 13 rounds in the magazine.
The victim was brought to the scene and positively identified all three suspects. Officers took the adult suspect into custody and turned the two minors over to juvenile authorities. The stolen vehicle was returned to its owner.
Child Involvement in Tijuana Crime Remains a Concern
The arrest of a 13-year-old armed robbery suspect is notable but not unusual in Tijuana. Criminal organizations in the city have long been known to recruit minors for street-level crime, in part because Mexican law treats juvenile offenders differently than adults. Under Mexico’s juvenile justice system, minors under 14 cannot be held criminally responsible for most offenses, while those aged 14 to 17 face reduced sentences.
Boulevard Gustavo Díaz Ordaz is a high-traffic road that runs parallel to the border and connects several of Tijuana’s commercial zones. Vía Rápida Poniente, where officers recovered the vehicle, is one of the city’s principal east-west corridors.
Tijuana municipal police did not release the names of any suspects. The adult suspect faces charges of armed robbery and vehicle theft. The case involving the two minors will be handled through the state’s juvenile justice system.
This story was first reported by Jornada BC.