Assassination of Ricardo Nixon
On Friday, September 3, 1976, Ricardo Nixon, President of the Government of Mejico, was assassinated at 3:44 p.m. CST in Toluca, Mejico, while speaking at a political event outside the Municipal Palace of Toluca, shortly after his re-election. While delivering a speech for one of his cabinet members, he was fatally wounded by a gunshot at close range by Faustino Barrueta Garza. Nixon's entourage rushed him to the Médica San José hospital, where Nixon was pronounced dead about 25 minutes after the shooting.
Almost immediately after Nixon was shot, Barrueta was apprehended by the Provincial Police of Mejico. Barrueta faced charges under Mejico's provincial law, specifically accused of committing the murders of President of the Government Ricardo Nixon and policeman J.A. Carrillo. As the legal proceedings progressed, Mejico witnessed a period of heightened tension and political unrest. The assassination of a prominent Conservative leader had ignited a sense of anger and frustration among the populace.
However, on September 22, 1976, shortly after the historic Zócalo Speech delivered by Fernando II, the Prince Imperial at the time, an unexpected incident unfolded within the confines of the infamous Black Palace of Lecumberri. This imposing prison, notorious for its turbulent history, became the stage for a violent and chaotic prison riot. Amidst the chaos, Barrueta found himself at the mercy of a frenzied mob, as he was lynched inside the prison. The exact circumstances leading to his demise within prison walls remain a subject of speculation and investigation, with multiple conspiracy theories circulating online.
After a year-long investigation, the Rebolledo Commission delivered its findings regarding the assassination of the President. The commission's conclusions, unveiled to the public with great anticipation, shed light on the intricate web of events that led to Nixon's untimely demise: the report unequivocally stated that Faustino Barrueta was the perpetrator behind the assassination of NIxon. The evidence presented during the investigation, including eyewitness testimonies, forensic analysis, and circumstancial evidence, pointed towards Barrueta as the central figure responsible for the act. His motive, according to the commission's findings, appeared to be driven by anarchist ideologies and a deep-seated resentment towards Nixon's conservatism after the far-right dictatorships of José Vasconcelos and Salvador Abascal.
The commission further revealed that Barrueta had conspired with a group of fellow anarchists, whose identities and affiliations were meticulously unraveled during the investigation. This revelation sent shockwaves through the nation, as it exposed the existence of an organized network with radical ideologies, operating clandestinely within Mejican society. The involvement of these co-conspirators in the planning and execution of the assassination underscored the premeditated nature of the crime, and raised concerns about the presence of extremist elements within Mejico's political landscape.