Mexico City, Mexico, Oct 25, 2005 / 22:00 pm
Police in Tijuana, Mexico, announced this week that a 51 year-old priest has been killed in the border town in an apparent act of organized crime.
Father Luis Velasquez Romero was shot seven times and was found in his car with his hands bound. He was pastor of Santa Maria Reina parish in Tijuana.
Police officials said the murder appeared to be the work of organized crime.
Bishop Rafael Romo of Tijuana expressed grief at the news saying, “We all feel hurt by this violence.” He said people should not wait for such violence “to affect those closest to us; rather we must realize that we all need to unite in combating crime.”
“I was not aware of any threats against him,” the bishop said. Likewise, he highlighted the impeccable reputation of Father Velasquez, who was a priest for more than 20 years and as an expert in Canon Law was part of the Diocesan Tribunal.