In Veracruz, another tragic case of violence occurred, where two underage brothers, one of whom was an altar boy, were shot dead in front of a church in a village. The Multimedia Catholic Center, a media outlet linked to the Church, reported this event on Tuesday, November 12. The Veracruz Prosecutor's Office confirmed the double homicide in Entabladero, municipality of Espinal, without providing details about the attack.
The murder took place during the night of Saturday, November 9, while the brothers were performing cleaning tasks at the parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe. According to the Multimedia Catholic Center, the assailants escaped on a motorcycle. One of the minors died on the spot, while the other passed away in the hospital. The brother who was not an altar boy was helping his mother with the cleaning chores.
In Mexico, attacks against members of the Catholic Church are not uncommon. Priests and laypeople who defend human rights have been targets of aggression on various occasions and places in the country. The recent murder of Father Marcelo Pérez in October, a recognized tsotsil priest for his attempt to mediate in territorial disputes between cartels in Chiapas, is an example of this violence. Pérez was shot after officiating mass, becoming the tenth priest killed in Mexico in five years.
In another region, in Oaxaca, the murder of Rigoberto Martínez, a coach of an indigenous children's basketball team known for its popularity in the country, was confirmed on Tuesday. The triqui team kids, who play barefoot, have stood out for their skill on the courts despite being shorter than their opponents. The sports program for triqui children combines basketball with studies to provide opportunities for minors in remote areas affected by poverty and violence.
The triqui team gained international attention by competing against U.S. school teams in Los Angeles in 2013 and was the subject of a documentary called Barefoot Giants. Although they received sneakers as gifts, the children preferred to play barefoot, thus maintaining their connection to the traditions of their communities. Alejandro Moreno, national president of the PRI, expressed sorrow over this murder and emphasized that there are still 34 homicides of triqui community members unresolved.