GUATEMALA CITY: Officials in Guatemala say a crowd in a rural community has burned three men alive who were accused of a killing and robbery, while authorities were able to rescue a fourth burned man.
Local fire department spokesman Cecilio Chacaj says Monday's incident happened in Maquivel village, which is the municipality of San Miguel Ixtahuacan in an area on Guatemala's border with Mexico.
Chacaj says people blocked rescuers who initially responded from entering the village. Then a contingent of 50 officers from the National Civil Police arrived and found the four burned men. One was still alive.
Officials say villagers accused the four men of using a car to run over two motorcycle salesmen to steal their guns. One of the vendors was killed.