Mexican authorities arrest 5 people linked to kidnappings of 4 Americans

Five people linked to last week’s kidnappings and murders of a group of Americans near the border in Brownsville, Texas, have been arrested, a Mexican official said Friday.

Irving Barrios Mojica, Attorney General of Tamaulipas, said on Twitter that the warrants were for the crimes of aggravated kidnapping and simple intentional homicide. An additional person has been arrested in recent days, Barrios Mojica said.

In a separate space Tweeter On Thursday night, Barrios Mojica said five vehicles, including a Lamborghini stolen from US soil, were found in Matamoros in a joint operation by Mexican officials.

THE The Gulf Cartel issued an apology on Thursday after two Americans were killed in the March 3 daytime kidnappings in which four Americans crossed the border into Matamoros, Mexico, just south of the Texas border.

The cartel condemned the violence in a letter obtained by The Associated Press and said they had handed over the members who were involved. A senior law enforcement official told NBC News that US authorities believe the letter was legitimate.

“The Gulf Cartel Grupo Escorpiones strongly condemns the events of Friday March 3 during which sadly an innocent working mother died and four American citizens were abducted, two of whom died,” reads a translation of the letter. “For this reason, we have decided to hand over those involved and directly responsible for the events who at all times acted under their own determination and indiscipline and against the rules under which CDG has always operated.”

The four Americans were shot and kidnapped after driving to Matamoros for a medical procedure.

Tamaulipas State Governor Américo Villarreal told a news conference that a woman, identified by her family as LaTavia Washington McGee, and a man, Eric Williams, survived the abduction.

Both were taken to a clinic for medical treatment and returned to the United States via an international bridge between Matamoros and Brownsville.

The two deceased victims were identified by family members like Shaeed Woodard and Zindell Brown.

Zalandria Brown from Florence, South Carolina, said The Associated Press that his younger brother, Zindell, was among the four victims. Aliyah McCleod, McGee’s cousin, identified another band member as Shaeed Woodard.

On Thursday, the remains of Woodard and Brown were handed over to US authorities in Brownsville, the AP reported.

McCleod said the group were from South Carolina and were traveling in a rental vehicle with North Carolina license plates when they entered Matamoros. Williams’ wife described the band as childhood friend.

A fifth person was with us for the trip from South Carolina. The traveler exited just before the group reached the border because the person did not have the necessary documents to enter Mexico, a law enforcement official said Wednesday.

This is a developing story. Please check for updates.