Crime and Violence in Solola.

Today in Solola a bus driving just below the hospital coming to Solola was robbed.

The driver was shot and killed. The assistant was also shot, was airlifted to the city but he is believed to have also died.

The robber, after shooting the drivers, jumped into a waiting taxi, that apparently had an accomplice. The bus went over the cliff, luckily, it only went a short distance before hitting a tree and coming to a stop. If it had of been a different area, the bus could have gone down a huge cliff and all the people on board could have been killed.

Apparently, the taxi was stopped, the assailants were pulled out of the taxi. The taxi was set on fire.
I am not sure what happened after that but the police managed to get the assailants into the jail. Huge angry crowds gathered, they demanded that the assailants be turned over to the mob.
The police force, which is very small, probably only about 8 police on duty, barricaded themselves in , threw tear gas to break up the mob.
The mob set fire to three police cars and were threatening to set fire to the municipal building unless the men were turned over.

Late this afternoon crowds were still gathering.

The robbing and killing of bus drivers is sadly a common occurence in Guatemala city.
It is the first time I have ever heard of it happening here in this usually peaceful area of Guatemala.
I hope it is the last time.
To see more photos and a video, please go to this link.
http://picasaweb.google.com/mayanfamilies/Noviembre272009GeneralYSolola?feat=directlink