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Death of 19-Year-Old National Guard Recruit Fuels Protests as Family Disputes 'Accident' Account

The family's challenge to the accident narrative drives a push for a federal probe.

Overview

  • Stephany Carmona Rojas, 19, died inside the National Guard’s 51st Battalion in Acapulco, prompting marches and vigils in her hometown of Ajalpan, Puebla.
  • An internal report from the National Guard attributes the death to an accidental firearm incident during shooting practice, a version the family rejects as inconsistent.
  • The Guerrero state prosecutor opened a criminal investigation and requested collaboration from the Military Justice Prosecutor’s Office to clarify what happened.
  • Relatives and friends say Stephany had reported harassment inside the battalion, including an allegation against a superior identified as Yair Manuel N., which remains an unproven claim.
  • The family has asked federal prosecutors to take the case and publicly questioned the battalion’s chain of command, while the National Guard has not issued a public statement.