Deputy Police Commander Murdered in Mexicali Valley; Prosecutors Keep All Lines of Inquiry Open

By: Marco Vinicio Blanco/Editor at PoderMX

Contributing article

MEXICALI, BAJA CALIFORNIA.— The murder of Mexicali Municipal Police Subcommander José Ramón Barajas Félix, which occurred Tuesday, September 22, in the Mexicali Valley, remains under investigation by the State Attorney General’s Office (FGE), while police authorities and representatives of the sector have addressed various aspects related to the attack and the security of the department’s commanding officers.

Barajas Félix, 38, served as subcommander of the Immediate Reaction Group (GRI) within the Municipal Public Security Directorate (DSPM). He was killed while off duty, near his residence in the Oviedo Mota Reacomodo ejido, in the rural area of Mexicali.

The Attack in the Mexicali Valley

The incident occurred at approximately 1:21 p.m. on Tuesday, September 22, after residents reported gunshots outside a home located on Adolfo Rentería Street.

Security personnel found the officer dead in front of his residence, with gunshot wounds. Preliminary information published by PoderMX indicated that he had been shot at least 20 times.

Initial reports also indicated that the alleged attackers were two hooded men dressed in dark clothing who fled in a gray pickup truck. These details are part of the information gathered at the scene and initial reports; identifying those responsible remains part of the prosecutorial investigation.

Following the attack, a search operation was launched involving personnel from the Municipal Police, the State Citizen Security Force, the State Attorney General’s Office, the Army, and the Navy.

Municipal Police Chief Confirms Targeted Attack

One day after the homicide, Municipal Public Security Director Luis Felipe Chan Baltazar expressed his condolences over the death of the subcommander and confirmed that, according to information reviewed by the Security Coordination Table and evidence found at the scene, the attack was directed specifically at the police commander.

“It was a completely direct attack. They were going after our officer, our subcommander,” the official said during an interview at Plaza Centenario.

Chan Baltazar said the State Attorney General’s Office is responsible for the lines of investigation and that the Municipal Police is assisting the investigative authority by providing the requested information.

He also reported that, immediately after the attack, operational teams were deployed and their patrols continued into the early hours of Wednesday. He said the operations would continue.

Regarding possible prior threats against Barajas Félix, the department director said he was not aware of the officer having reported or expressed any threats against him. He added that no possibility has been ruled out and that it is the responsibility of the State Attorney General’s Office to establish the lines of investigation.

Prosecutor’s Office Reviews Cameras and Keeps Investigations Open

State Attorney General María Elena Andrade Ramírez reported on September 23 that the FGE is keeping all lines of investigation open in an effort to clarify the homicide.

According to the official, the attack was carried out against the police commander’s residence. Authorities are analyzing security-camera recordings, conducting interviews, and reviewing video footage to obtain information that may establish how the events unfolded and identify those responsible.

Andrade Ramírez said the available images show armed, hooded men carrying high-caliber weapons. She also described the attackers as appearing to have knowledge of activities associated with organized crime. This description, by itself, does not constitute an official identification of those responsible, nor does it confirm their affiliation with any specific criminal organization.

Recording Device Seized

The State Attorney General’s Office confirmed the seizure of the DVR device connected to the security cameras installed at Barajas Félix’s residence so that the corresponding forensic analysis can be conducted.

The agency is also seeking footage from cameras located in the surrounding area to expand the information available about the attack and the movements of the assailants.

During the interview, the state attorney general reported that nearly 200 rifle casings were found at the scene and that the officer sustained multiple gunshot wounds. The figure comes from the official’s statement and should be distinguished from the preliminary estimates initially reported.

State Central Prosecutor Rubén Alfredo Ramos reported that the subcommander’s family has been provided with protective measures following the attack.

The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities collecting testimony, analyzing surveillance footage, and carrying out investigative procedures aimed at determining the identity of those responsible and the motive for the homicide.

Police Fraternity Questions Protection for Commanding Officers

Barajas Félix’s murder also prompted a statement from the Mexicali Police Fraternity, A.C., which expressed concern over violence against members of the municipal police force and questioned the protection and institutional support provided to officers who assume command responsibilities.

The document, signed by its president, Luis Antonio Navarrete Castillo, stated that the officer’s death should not become just another statistic or be overshadowed by other events.

The organization noted that Barajas Félix joined the department in October 2011 and had recently assumed greater responsibilities within its command structure. In its statement, the organization raised questions about the safety conditions facing officers serving as supervisors, subcommanders, and commanders.

Among the questions raised were:

What are institutions doing to protect police commanders?

What measures are being implemented to support officers and their families?

What actions need to be changed to prevent the violent death of another police officer from becoming a recurring event?

The Fraternity also rejected statements that seek to justify an officer’s death by arguing that “there must have been a reason” or that the officer “must have been involved in something.” At the same time, it acknowledged the importance of ensuring that police institutions remain subject to public scrutiny, accountability, transparency, professional preparation, and respect for human rights.

The organization emphasized that behind the uniform is a person and a family, and that institutional support must translate into concrete measures to protect officers while they remain in service, rather than being limited to providing support after an officer has died.

History of Violence Against Municipal Police Officers

The case of José Ramón Barajas Félix adds to other killings involving members of the Mexicali Municipal Police and commanders associated with the department.

Among the cases cited in PoderMX reports are:

Norberto Ornelas Nava and Erik Aguilera Barajas: Both were killed on September 20, 2022, during an attack in San Felipe. Both had service backgrounds connected to the Mexicali Municipal Public Security Directorate.

Roberto Méndez Arreola: A municipal police subcommander assigned to the Southern Zone of the Mexicali Valley, he was killed in July 2025 near his residence in the Villa Lomas Altas development. The crime remained unsolved at the time of publication.

These cases form part of the context in which the Police Fraternity raised questions regarding the protection of commanding officers and the safety conditions facing members of the department.

Investigation Ongoing

As of the publication of this report, the State Attorney General’s Office continues to pursue multiple lines of investigation, analyze surveillance footage, and gather information to clarify the homicide.

The Municipal Public Security Directorate has stated that it is cooperating with the investigative authority, while the State Attorney General’s Office has reported that protective measures have been provided for the officer’s family.

The motive for the crime has not been publicly established, nor have authorities reported the identification or arrest of any individuals as responsible for the murder. Determining responsibility will depend on the progress of the prosecutorial investigation and the evidence obtained.