When four people in a Monterrey jewelry store were killed by gunmen who took nothing, few doubted that it was a message.

In the seconds before the gunmen burst into the tiny Lozano Garza jewelry store in this city's downtown, three shoppers browsed the display cases.

An unarmed security guard sat by the door.

Then three men with assault rifles ran in, one after the other, the muzzles of their weapons ablaze.

By the time anyone reacted to the gunfire, it was too late. The four people collapsed in the barrage of bullets. One of the gunmen helped another, apparently wounded by a comrade, out of the store. Before the last killer fled, he fired final shots into a customer and the guard.

ngtm1r wrote:Ciudad Juárez is not a town. It is, well, a city. WTF did you think Ciudad meant? And they go call it a city with two million inhabitants later? What in the hell is wrong with your writers, Guardian?

I live within hiking distance of the border. I could walk there, in a day or so. Tijuana is just south of here. News from there regular features in the papers. Yet, at least, the Baja authorities seem to be doing a decentish job considering the opposition. They certainly made a heavier government commitment there because it's a major tourist area. But it's not enough.