3 inmates found dead in prison in Mexican resort city of Acapulco

1/6/2014

MEXICO CITY — Three inmates were beaten to death inside a prison in the resort city of Acapulco on Monday, an attack linked to a shootout inside another penitentiary last week that left 10 people dead.

The three men were killed after being transferred to Acapulco from a prison in the city of Iguala, where five gunmen, four inmates and a guard died in a shootout last week, said a Guerrero state official.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he’s not authorized to discuss an ongoing investigation, said the inmates were killed hours after arriving at the prison.

Guerrero state prosecutors said in a statement the inmates killed Monday had been sentenced to up to 35 years in prison for robbery and homicide.

Last week, a group of six gunmen managed to enter the prison in Iguala and opened fire, killing four inmates.

They then opened fire on guards who returned fire, killing five gunmen. A prison guard was also killed.

The gunmen apparently gained entry to the prison by telling a guard at the gate that they were officials bringing in a prisoner.

Mexican drug gangs have been known to assassinate members of rival gangs in prison. They have also have stormed prisons to free gang members.

Guerrero state authorities said they haven’t determined what group or groups are behind the attacks.