Guatemala: Lynch mob kills 3 alleged criminals

GUATEMALA CITY (ISH) – Local residents killed three alleged criminals they suspected of trying to extort a farmer near the border with El Salvador, the National Civil Police said on Oct. 16.

A group of more than 500 residents living in and around the village of El Botadero near the city of Jutiapa abducted the men who had been arrested by police before beating and killing them.

The victims allegedly went to the residence of a farmer and demanded he pay $200,000 quetzales (US$25,162) or they’d hurt his family. The farmer didn’t pay, causing the alleged extortionists to attack the farmer’s wife and damage the residence before they were arrested by police.

Residents stopped the police patrol and forced the suspects from the car and set them on fire. José Esquivel, 45, and Milton Esquivel, 30, died at the scene and the third – 20-year-old Milton Reyes – succumbed to his injuries at a nearby hospital.