•MURDER: The weekend murder of French-Mexican restauranteur Baptiste Jacques Daniel Lormand alongside one of his business associates has shocked Mexico City with friends of the victims calling for a public demonstration Monday in the affluent neighborhood of Polanco, where the victim’s businesses are located.
•INQUIRY: “There is no sign whatsoever to suggest that this was kidnapping or extortion…The main line of inquiry, at the moment, is related to the business or commercial activity of the deceased consisting in the sale of high-end liquor”, said Omar García-Harfuch, Mexico City’s police chief.
• COMMUNITY: The number of French nationals residing in Mexico was estimated to be 8,600 in 2015 according to a recent academic study citing data from the Mexican statistics agency (INEGI). One year ago, a French businessman was also the victim of kidnapping for ransom near Toluca.
• SHOCK: “Like our entire community, I am very shocked by the murder of our fellow countryman. My heart goes out to his family and friends. The Embassy is in close contact with the Mexican authorities to follow up on the progress of the inquiry”, said French Ambassador Jean-Pierre Asvazadourian.
