Students, parents and staff at the Rafael Ramírez Elementary School in Sinaloa held a tribute this week for two young girls killed in a recent shooting in Badiraguato, calling on state officials for answers and greater protections for residents as violence in the area continues to soar.
Federal and state authorities reported last week that the girls, identified as Leydi, 11, and Alexa, 7, were killed after allegedly being caught in the crossfire of an ambush by suspected cartel gunmen. The attack reportedly targeted members of the Mexican army and the Sinaloa Attorney General's Office.
The case, however, has sparked further controversy after a person claiming to be a relative of the girls posted a video on TikTok disputing the official account. In the video, the individual alleges that the girls were not killed in the crossfire but executed by military personnel, contradicting the government's claim that they were victims of collateral damage.
"I feel sad, because I shouldn't have to come out and plead for justice for a classmate," said an 11-year-old girl who attended the memorial, according to Animal Político.
School principal Jesús Álvarez Salazar led the tribute and described it as a day of deep sorrow for the community.
"They were both taken from us in the most cruel and inhumane way," he said. "In a second, their wings were cut. Their dreams were stolen. They were robbed from us. In this earthly world, they will be missed—not only at our school, but also in their homes, with their families and among their friends."
Following a moment of silence, attendees marched through the streets of Culiacán to protest the government's response and demand the resignation of Sinaloa Gov. Rubén Rocha Moya.
Chants of "Rocha Moya out," "murderous soldiers," and "we want peace" echoed through the town as students, teachers and parents joined in the demonstration.
"It's unbearable that we've been living with this situation for more than eight months, and sometimes I ask myself: how many more children will it take? How many more lives must be lost before the municipal, state and federal governments finally take action?" said one mother who attended the memorial and asked not to be named.
The deaths of Leydi and Alexa come amid a surge in violence in Sinaloa, where rival factions of the Sinaloa Cartel — Los Chapitos and La Mayiza — have been locked in a violent turf war for the past eight months.
According to Animal Político, at least 39 minors have been killed in Sinaloa since September 2024, when violence between the two factions erupted in Culiacán.
While Sinaloa has reported a sharp rise in child fatalities, the issue extends beyond the state. According to data from the Executive Secretariat of the National Public Security System (SESNSP), 570 homicides of minors were reported nationwide between January and March.
Guanajuato reported the highest number of cases during that period with 77, followed by Michoacán (65), Oaxaca (48) and Jalisco (45).
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