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Young Chemistry Student Refused To Cook Drugs For Narco Gang So They Sent A Hitman To Kill Him

This 24-year-old chemistry student was shot dead whilst his little 12-year-old brother was hit by a stray bullet after a hitman believed to have been sent by a narco gang was ordered to kill him for refusing to help them cook synthetic drugs.

Juan Manuel Delgado Cardenas, 24, was shot dead at his home in Tijuana city located in the northwestern Mexican state of Baja California around 6:00pm on 30th April.

Local news outlet La Cronica reports that Cardenas was studying Chemistry at the Autonomous University of Baja California where it is believed he was approached by narcos who hoped to coerce him into using his chemistry degree to cook up synthetic drugs for them.

Newsflash

After Cardenas refused, they allegedly got revenge by sending a hitman to the young man’s home.

The hitman knocked on the front door, and without saying a single word opened fire when the doors opened, killing Cardenas almost instantly.

Several stray bullets went on to hit four members of Cardenas’ family including his 12-year-old brother Jose Antonio.

Newsflash

The four injured family members survived the shooting although it is not clear about the gravity of their injuries.

The Autonomous University of Baja California said in a statement: “We express our deepest condolences for the family and friends of Juan Manuel Delgado Cardenas.”

Víctor Clark, a Professor at Sand Diego University, told local news outlet Conspiraccion that: “Drug traffickers often recruit young chemistry students paying them USD 10,000 (GBP 7,150) to USD 18,000 (GBP 12,870) per year.”

Newsflash

He added that students like Cardenas are “hostages” in the world of drug trafficking as they are often forced to accept the job by narcos.

Tijuana city has rallied around the young man’s family and has started collecting donations to pay for the family’s medical and funeral expenses.

University students organised a protest in Tijuana last Wednesday (5th May) demanding that authorities get justice for Cardenas.

Newsflash

Cinthya Noriega, a student who attended the march, said: “I feel a lot of anger because this is not the first time that such an intelligent young man, with a very promising future, who had done nothing wrong, has had his life ended this way.”

The investigation is ongoing and, as of yet, the authorities have not named any suspects.

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