Second Tijuana prison riot quelled with death toll of 19

SOLDIERS and federal police have regained control of Tijuana’s infamous La Mesa State Penitentiary after a second riot in three days left 19 people dead and 12 injured, officials said yesterday.

Relatives of inmates say they rioted because they were not given food or water since the previous riot on Sunday, which led to the deaths of three inmates. Authorities blamed warring gangs, but said prison officials are suspected of being involved in the second melee and three top officials were suspended by the governor pending an inquiry.

“We are investigating all of the officials at La Mesa penitentiary who could have been responsible or have been in cohort with some of the inmates,” said Daniel de la Rosa, Baja California’s Public Safety Secretary.