MEXICO CITY—Mexican officials apprehended a 14-year-old child nicknamed "El Chapito" for the drug-related killings of eight individuals near Mexico City on Thursday, according to the federal Public Safety Department.
The teenager reportedly pulled up on a motorbike and started fire on a family in Chimalhuacan, a low-income Mexico City suburb. Another individual was detained in connection with the Jan. 22 killings, while seven other gang members were arrested on narcotics charges.
At the time of the incident, the victims were hosting a party at their home, and five adults and two children were also injured. According to reports, it was a birthday celebration.
The boy's identity was not published, but his moniker, "Little Chapo," appears to be a reference to drug kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, who is now imprisoned.
Although the motivation for the deaths has not been revealed, criminal gangs in Mexico often engage in kidnapping and contract killing. They also murder rivals who sell narcotics in their turf or those who give them money. Child murders are not uncommon in Mexico.
Soldiers apprehended a 14-year-old child called "El Ponchis" in 2010 after he claimed he was abducted at the age of 11 and forced to work for the Cartel of the South Pacific, a part of the Beltran Leyva gang. He claimed to have taken part in at least four decapitations.
Upon his arrest, the youngster, who police only identified as Edgar, informed reporters that he was drugged and intimidated into performing the acts.
