Two women killed, police officer wounded in gang attack in Guatemala City

Two women, identified as mother and daughter, were killed in a violent attack in the western part of Guatemala City. A police officer was also wounded during the pursuit of the suspects. The victims were reportedly shot by two assailants dressed in police uniforms in the La Verbena neighborhood.

The alleged attackers, known by the aliases 'Orejón' and a 16-year-old minor, are reportedly members of the Mara Salvatrucha (MS) gang, designated as a terrorist organization by Guatemala and the United States. They fled the scene in a vehicle but were later apprehended in the El Amparo neighborhood after a shootout with security forces, during which an agent sustained a gunshot wound to his left leg.

Authorities discovered a rifle in the suspects' vehicle, which they believe was stolen and used in the killings. While the exact motive remains under investigation, police are exploring a potential connection to drug trafficking. This incident adds to the concerning statistics of violence against women in Guatemala, with 258 violent deaths recorded so far this year.