Guadalajara, Mexico, Apr 7 (EFE).- A shootout between police and gunmen left 15 people dead in the western Mexican state of Jalisco, state officials said.
The shootout occurred Monday on the Mascota-Las Palmas highway at the crossroads near Soyatan, a community outside the city of San Sebastian del Oeste.
The shootout involved Jalisco Attorney General's Office agents and suspected members of a criminal organization, but the breakdown of the casualties is not known.
The gunmen opened fire on a security forces convoy headed for the Guadalajara metropolitan area, setting off the shootout.
AG's office investigators are gathering evidence at the scene.
Prosecutors suspect that the attack on the officers may have been in retaliation for the investigation and recent arrests of individuals linked to an attempt to kill Jalisco Security Commissioner Alejandro Solorio, officials said.
The AG's office opened an investigation of 15 suspects following the March 30 attack on Solorio in Rio Blanco, a town outside the city of Zapopan.
Four of the suspects were turned over to the federal Attorney General's Office.
The attack on Solorio was staged in response to the March 23 killing in the city of Zacoalco de Torres of Heriberto Acevedo Cardenas and two associates, the Jalisco AG's office said.
