Border businessman slaying shocks residents

Almost as quickly as the startling gunfire echoed through the streets across the line, the shocking news of the murder of well-known businessman Jaime Ostler Robles rang throughout Ambos Nogales on Tuesday afternoon.

Ostler, 67, was the father-in-law of Yamin Zeinun Ostler, chief clerk at the office of the Clerk of the Superior Court of Arizona for Santa Cruz County.

Investigators told reporters that it appeared Ostler had been shot in the head and abdomen. A funeral was held for him Thursday in Nogales, Sonora.

One municipal police officer, Alfredo Morales Martinez, was also reportedly hit in the head during a shootout with assailants. Another officer, Martin Carranza, was run over by one of the culprits’ vehicles.

Mayor Marco Antonio Martinez Dabdoub announced Wednesday that Officer Morales was improving but remained in critical condition in a Tucson hospital.

Six of the 12 suspects reportedly arrested are Ricardo Delgado Zazueta, Raúl Valverde Hernández, José Aboyte Flores, Manuel Pérez, Eulogio Sarabia and MartÃ-n Alberto Ayala.

When police searched a house on Paseo Chula Vista in connection with the incident, a multitude of high-powered weapons, including handguns and drugs were discovered.

The home was vacant, except for the weapons and some blankets, and appeared to be a flophouse for the criminals.

Ostler was reportedly shot nine times – once in the head – after he resisted the alleged kidnapping attempt, which occurred at the FOMSA hardware store he owned in the center of Nogales, Sonora.

The incident occurred as Ostler arrived at the FOMSA parking lot on Felix Peñaloza street in a Lincoln Mark LT pick-up truck.

According to media reports, the assailants fled west toward 5 de Febrero Avenue where they boarded a red sedan. Municipal transit police gave chase and intercepted the vehicle.

The officers then received gunfire from a gray Chevrolet pick-up truck with Arizona plates that drove up behind them. Officer Morales was hit during the volley. He was immediately taken to the Social Security Hospital, stabilized and then transported to a Tucson hospital at his family’s request.

Meanwhile, a manhunt began comprising local, state and federal police who found the bullet-ridden pick-up truck along Paseo Chula Vista. Police found an AK-47 assault rifle in the interior of the truck.

Officers found a bullet-proof Jeep Cherokee in the driveway of the house.