A poker game in the Mexican border city of Nuevo Laredo became the site of a brutal shooting that claimed the lives of five players on Monday night. Residents ran for cover after hearing the shots, a sound that, unfortunately, is becoming increasingly familiar to the people in this violence-ridden town.

Four out of five of the victims have been identified, one being Mario Alberto Barrera, a former police officer who later worked as a used car salesman. The poker game took place at a mechanic's garage that often repaired the cars that Barrera sold. The group reportedly met at the garage for poker games on a regular basis.

At press time, no arrests had been made in the shooting. The deadly poker game's locale is one of the more treacherous parts of the city, known for a high rate of drug-related violence. Nevertheless, the motive in this case is not yet known. One of the victims, however, was shot in a brutal manner that often symbolizes retribution for betrayal among members of local drug cartels.

Source:  Poker777 Staff

Wednesday, 21 December 2005