‘Killer granny’ goes viral after shooting alleged squatters in México state

A 74-year-old grandma identified by authorities arsenic Carlota “N” has go the halfway of nationalist contention aft a convulsive spot quality this week ended with 2 deaths and 1 wounded successful México state.

Dubbed “abuelita sicaria” (the slayer granny) and “abuelita justiciera” (the vigilante granny) connected societal media, Carlota’s actions person sparked polarized reactions crossed Mexico and a bucketload of memes — ranging from praise to condemnation.

Ella es Carlota “N”, la abuelita de Chalco, que le disparo a dos hombres que presuntamente invadieron su casa. pic.twitter.com/hzzWV45vgY

— El Universal (@El_Universal_Mx) April 4, 2025

The incident, partially captured by information cameras, occurred Tuesday successful the Ex Hacienda de Guadalupe lodging analyzable successful the municipality of La Candelaria Tlapala, astir 45 kilometers southeast of Mexico City successful the municipality of Chalco.

According to officials, an equipped Carlota arrived astatine the disputed property, accompanied by Eduardo “N” and Mariana “N.”

Without warning, she opened occurrence and killed a 19-year-old antheral connected the spot and injured 2 others — a 51-year-old antheral who aboriginal died successful the infirmary and a teen who needed aesculapian attraction — according to the Attorney General’s Office of the State of Mexico (FGJEM).

Carlota and her companions were arrested connected Wednesday, reportedly charged with treble homicide — and besides bribery aft allegedly attempting to wage disconnected the arresting officers.

The “killer granny” allegedly changeable and killed 2 men successful México authorities successful an onslaught that was caught by information cameras. (FGJEM)

According to archetypal investigations, Carlota claimed ownership of the spot and accused those surviving determination of being squatters, known successful Mexico arsenic paracaidistas.

In a state wherever disputes implicit onshore ownership are commonplace owed to anemic enforcement mechanisms, tenants’ rights laws successful Mexico marque it precise hard for spot owners to propulsion squatters disconnected their spot — arsenic noted successful a Mexico News Daily nonfiction astir the rigors of renting successful Mexico.

Frustrated by what she perceived arsenic inaction from authorities, Carlota reportedly took matters into her ain hands.

However, conflicting accounts person emerged. The victims’ household stated they were tenants with a rental statement provided by a 3rd party, though they admitted uncertainty astir whether that idiosyncratic was himself a squatter.

Moreover, images of 1 unfortunate posing with firearms person fueled speculation astir imaginable transgression ties among those attacked. Despite this, nary definitive grounds has linked them to organized crime.

Carlota’s apprehension has triggered wide statement online. Memes, caricatures and adjacent a corrido — a accepted Mexican ballad — person been created to immortalize her actions.

“ESTE CORRIDO SEÑORES…es PA LA ANCIANA CARLOTA”
Es el corrido de Ma Carlota Alfaro Quesada, la mamá del exdiputado Arturo Santana, militante de @PartidoMorenaMx
Dice q es una abuela q trae huevos.
Hoy está detenida en @FiscaliaEdomex con 2 hijos, acusada de doble homicidio. pic.twitter.com/tQAKixbIkv

— Carlos Jiménez (@c4jimenez) April 3, 2025

The corrido portrays her arsenic a fig of justness reclaiming her home: “An aggravated granny went to get escaped of the thugs. They invaded her house. The granny wanted justice.” (See the afloat lyrics here.)

While immoderate hailed Carlota arsenic a leader who took matters into her ain hands successful effect to systemic failures, others criticized her arsenic a cold-blooded murderer, arguing that unit cannot beryllium justified nether immoderate circumstances.

Across the nation, her communicative has raised questions astir justice, spot rights and the limits of self-defense.

One dissenting dependable connected societal media stated, “Those who romanticize the aged murderer… [she] is neither a vengeful grandma nor a righteous grandmother; [she] is simply a deed woman.”

Meanwhile, supporters shared sentiments like,  “A caller Mexican superhero… nary different than the avenging granny.”

Carlota’s ineligible presumption remains unresolved; arsenic of Friday morning, she and her accomplices were being held successful detention, but authorities reportedly had until the extremity of the time to transportation them to authorities situation for an archetypal hearing.

During her greeting property league Friday, President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed investigations into Carlota and the incident.

“We request to reappraisal it carefully,” she said. “We’ll await each the accusation from the authorities prosecutor’s bureau and past springiness our opinion.”

The incidental brought to caput the lawsuit of Juana Barraza Samperio, a erstwhile nonrecreational wrestler who was dubbed “La Mataviejitas” (The Little Old Lady Killer) aft she was arrested successful 2006 for the sidesplitting of 17 women — “although she apt killed galore more,” wrote Mexico News Daily.

With reports from Excélsior, El Universal, Meganoticias, Parriva and Aristegui Noticias