Suspect arrested for slaying of Mexican land rights activist

MEXICO CITY – A suspect has been arrested for the killing of indigenous land rights activist Julian Carrillo in the Sierra Madre mountains of northern Mexico.

Chihuahua state Gov. Javier Corral says Saturday the presumed murderer has been detained for the October shooting death.

Carrillo was a leader of the Tarahumara community of Coloradas de la Virgen who fought illegal logging and was under government protection since 2014 due to death threats. His house was burned in 2016, and at least four of his family members were slain in recent years.

Carrillo recounted to Amnesty International shortly before his death that criminals had taken over community land to grow opium poppy and cannabis, and that he faced threats for speaking out against the incursion. He had also expressed opposition to a mining concession.