Juarez, Mexico – The city of Juarez is reeling from the tragic loss of two dedicated municipal police officers, Miguel Eduardo Gallegos Salas, 31, and Rigoberto Pulido Escobedo, 32, who were fatally shot late Monday night while off duty near a local convenience store. Their deaths have cast a somber shadow over the Municipal Public Safety Secretariat (SSPM) and the broader community they served.
According to Juarez news outlets citing unnamed Mexican investigators, the two officers were reportedly acting as bodyguards for a civilian at the time of the incident — a man later identified as Ulises Nache Trujillo, who was also killed during the shooting. Nache’s history includes multiple encounters with U.S. law enforcement in El Paso, Texas, for immigration-related offenses and alleged smuggling activities.
The Officers’ Service and Dedication
Both men were members of the motorized patrol unit tasked with policing the busy commercial district in Downtown Juarez. Officer Rigoberto Pulido Escobedo had served with the municipal police for 11 years, earning respect among his peers for his commitment and professionalism. Officer Miguel Eduardo Gallegos Salas, though newer to the force with just two years of service, had already distinguished himself as a reliable and dedicated public servant.
In an official statement released Tuesday, SSPM expressed deep grief over the loss:
“The two officers were off duty, and this agency is collaborating with investigative authorities to aid in the resolution of the investigation. SSPM expresses its sorrow over this incident.”
The Third Victim: A Controversial Figure
The third man killed in the shooting, Ulises Nache Trujillo, was a Juarez resident with a documented criminal past in the United States. U.S. federal court records reveal that Nache was first apprehended in 2008 by U.S. Border Patrol agents for illegal entry into the country, about a mile east of the Paso del Norte Port of Entry. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to time served while awaiting trial.
In 2010, Nache was arrested again for illegal reentry, serving 150 days in federal custody. Later that year, he faced alien smuggling charges after Border Patrol agents intercepted a group of five individuals — three men and two women — illegally crossing the Rio Grande east of the Ysleta Port of Entry in El Paso. Reports from that case allege that Nache acted as the smuggler, with one of the detained women identifying him directly. Though the case was eventually terminated, the incidents left a lasting record of his involvement in cross-border criminal activity.
Unanswered Questions and Ongoing Investigation
Authorities have not yet released a clear motive for the attack or confirmed whether the shooting was directly linked to Nache’s criminal past. Investigators are working to establish whether the officers’ role as off-duty bodyguards contributed to the deadly encounter.
The deaths of Gallegos Salas and Pulido Escobedo mark a devastating blow to Juarez law enforcement, particularly at a time when officers face increasing risks both on and off duty. Their loss is not only felt within the SSPM but across the community, where residents have expressed outrage, sorrow, and a renewed call for justice.
As the investigation continues, the SSPM has pledged full cooperation with investigative authorities to identify and apprehend those responsible. Funeral arrangements for the fallen officers are expected to draw large crowds, as fellow officers, family members, and community leaders gather to honor their lives and service.
If you’d like, I can also prepare a memorial-style tribute version of this story that focuses less on the criminal case and more on honoring the officers’ personal lives and service records. That would make it more fitting for an obituary page or community remembrance.
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