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News: Shooting threatens sanmiguelada
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Gunshots fired during the sanmiguelada (running of the bulls) last Saturday wounded two people and have put local authorities under pressure to find a solution to escalating problems surrounding the event. During a press conference on September 25, authorities were unable to provide detailed information about the shooting. An unprecedented 50,000 visitors—30,000 more than last year—inundated the city with an excess of youthful energy, alcohol consumption and, by the next day, trash. Lack of security, disorderly conduct, garbage, too few portable toilets, illegal alcohol consumption and the shooting during the event have left authorities in a quandary: either restructure the event to avoid greater problems next year or discontinue it entirely. Despite the presence of 325 local, regional and state police officers, the crowd proved too large to control, and the city experienced its most chaotic weekend in years.
This year’s event was marred when an unknown assailant fired two shots into the crowd near the old Hermanos Aldama movie theater on the corner of San Francisco and Reloj and wounded two people. The injured, two males, 23 and 27 years old, were taken to the General Hospital.
Although the District Attorney has opened an investigation into the shooting, no information is currently available regarding a possible motive or potential suspect. Authorities have asked local TV 4 channel for the videotape shot during the running of the bulls. However, according to Josué Mijares, TV 4 cameramen, “We only recorded some brawls, that’s it.”
The City Council Secretary said that the council provided all available information to the District Attorney and that they are awaiting the results. “It was a lamentable accident, and we couldn’t do anything to prevent it.”
Quashing the rumors that the shooting was directed toward the last of the bulls, authorities explained that was incorrect. According to the Peña Taurina, the last bull was exhausted, fell, breaking a leg, and had to be put down.
“The next administration will have to meet with business owners, the Peña Taurina and authorities to re-evaluate the event and will have to balance the gains in revenue the event generates against the losses,” said the City Council Secretary. “Bar owners allege that they do not profit during the sanmiguelada. This is not true because while collecting cover charges of 450 to 1,000 pesos their places were always crowded,” continued the secretary.
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