Driving along Vía Atlixcáyotl, the main avenue in Puebla, Mexico, became a high-risk activity. Every so often, Rafael Zabalza, a 65-year-old Spanish pharmacist, would appear driving a pickup truck and randomly open fire on motorists. Over the course of three months, he attacked at least 11 drivers and one motorcyclist at different locations throughout Angelópolis, the city’s most exclusive area, leaving residents living in fear. Early Tuesday morning, the State Prosecutor’s Office identified and located him. He allegedly greeted officers with gunfire at one of his properties before being arrested along with a large cache of weapons.
According to the Prosecutor’s Office, Zabalza would leave his home in the Santa Fe area armed, get into a white GMC Denali pickup truck without license plates, and drive to various locations along Vía Atlixcáyotl to attack passing drivers. The shootings occurred at different times of the day and at different points along the avenue, with no discernible pattern, making the investigation difficult for weeks.
The first attacks occurred in April, but for several weeks the victims did not file formal complaints. Authorities first learned about the incidents through social media, where videos of vehicles struck by bullets began circulating. Residents started warning each other about a suspected sniper, and fear spread rapidly throughout the city.
The Investigation
José Luis Hernández González, Metropolitan Investigation Prosecutor, explained that it was not until June that a young man wounded by gunfire officially filed a complaint. Since then, authorities have opened 10 criminal investigations: one for attempted homicide and the others for property damage and dangerous attacks. Two additional victims chose not to file complaints.
“At first we believed they were isolated incidents, but once we conducted reconstructions and technical and scientific investigations, we noticed significant similarities,” Hernández said during Tuesday’s presentation of the case.
Using the available information, investigators established a criminal activity zone and reviewed footage from private security cameras as well as the state’s C5 surveillance system. Among the technologies employed was El Faro, a three-dimensional forensic system that allowed investigators to trace bullet trajectories and calculate firing distances. Some victims were also able to identify the alleged shooter.
State Attorney General Idamis Pastor and Public Security Secretary Francisco Sánchez González stated that the suspect was identified “through the analysis of behavioral patterns and the tracking of an unregistered pickup truck that repeatedly appeared in the various attacks.”
Sánchez acknowledged that the investigation was “a difficult and complicated task” because the suspect relied heavily on anonymity and surprise, noting that he “had no defined pattern, no fixed location, and no regular schedule.”
Authorities stated that the attacks “caused terror and panic” among the public.
“Thank God we only have one injured person,” Sánchez said.
The Arrest
Shortly after 4:00 a.m. on Tuesday, officers arrived at the first of two properties connected to Zabalza. When they knocked on the door, authorities say he opened fire on police officers and a patrol vehicle, “putting the lives of public servants at risk.”
Despite the gunfire, officers managed to arrest him. Prosecutors added this incident to the case file under charges of aggravated attempted homicide and property damage.
During the first search, authorities seized:
- A semi-automatic handgun
- A rifle
- A shotgun
- Ammunition
- The white GMC Denali pickup truck without license plates allegedly used in the attacks
Second Property Search
At a second property located in the Anzures neighborhood, investigators found:
- Two .22-caliber firearms
- 536 rounds of .22-caliber ammunition
- 23 rounds of 9 mm ammunition
- Computers
- Electronic tablets
- Nearly 800,000 pesos in cash
Authorities stated that some of the firearms were legally registered and permitted, while others were classified as weapons reserved exclusively for military use.
Attorney General Idamis Pastor described the investigation as “surgical” and rejected criticism from citizens who had questioned the Prosecutor’s Office’s work over the past several months.
Previous Similar Incidents
Although prosecutors have not officially linked the case to earlier shootings, many social media users have recalled similar incidents in the same area dating back to the summer of 2023.
Among the cases mentioned are two men—one riding a motorcycle and another riding a bicycle—who suffered gunshot wounds to the chest and arm.
Several months later, in November, two truck drivers also died in the Angelópolis area. Local media reported that one died after being shot in the chest, while the other was killed by a stray bullet a few days later.
At the time, the Prosecutor’s Office stated that investigators would attempt to trace the bullets, although no arrests were made.
A Previous Public Appearance
Following Zabalza’s arrest, an earlier interview featuring him began circulating on social media. In the recording, he was promoting a domino tournament.
“It’s a way to make friends, encourage companionship, and promote values and principles such as camaraderie, loyalty, and fair play,” he said in the video.
Source: elpais
