Zacatecas massacre: Victims reportedly met with cartel bosses, new leads emerge

Zacatecas authorities are investigating a massacre that claimed 10 lives, including businessmen and municipal officials, with new evidence suggesting eight victims voluntarily attended a meeting with a criminal group.

According to prosecutor Cristian Camacho, these eight victims informed their families they were going to meet "the bosses," a phrase used to identify members of a criminal organization. The meetings were reportedly scheduled for July 16 or 17 in the rural community of Buenavista de Trujillo, located in Fresnillo.

Investigators have gathered evidence, including phone records and interviews, indicating direct communication between the victims and their aggressors. This suggests the victims were not forcibly abducted, with the exception of the former mayor of Sombrerete, Ignacio Castrejón Valdés, who was reportedly taken from his home on July 18 and later found dead in Sain Alto.

The testimony of Fresnillo mayor Javier Torres Rodríguez, provided as a witness on July 24, has prompted two new investigative avenues, though details remain undisclosed. Authorities confirmed that extortion is one of the current lines of investigation, with at least two of the deceased businessmen allegedly involved, though it is unclear if they were acting under duress.

In total, 14 arrests have been made in connection with the massacre. Seven detainees are considered "high relevance," and three of them have already been brought before the judiciary. The investigation continues to clarify the roles of all involved parties.