The second lieutenant in command of the patrol said that they were on their way to a nearby community. However, the villagers told the soldiers that the way they were going did not lead there. Meanwhile, other villagers were making references to things that the Army had done in the early 1980s. According to some witnesses, the soldiers asked if they could take part in the festivities planned to commemorate the community's first anniversary and the villagers themselves invited them to stay. Others say that it was demanded that they come in to explain what they were doing there. Leaving aside the real reasons they entered the village, the fact is that after that first encounter the commanding officer decided to make his way to the center of the community so that he could explain the reasons for the soldiers' presence. On the way, the number of villagers surrounding the soldiers gradually increased and the verbal onslaught directed at the soldiers grew more forceful, as did the expressions of displeasure at their presence. At around 1:30 p.m. the second lieutenant spoke to the deputy mayor. While this was happening, the villagers’ expressions of discontent with the soldiers' presence grew increasingly heated until they asked the soldiers to put down their weapons and remain there so that MINUGUA and the UNHCR could come and verify this alleged violation of the October 8 Agreements. After more than half an hour, the second lieutenant issued a number of orders to the soldiers, who, uneasy at the pressure from the community members, who were surrounding them, “attempted to leave, pushing the people aside with their rifles,” and made for where they had entered the village. At the same time, a group of villagers made their way there to stop them leaving. A woman “grabbed the barrel of the sergeant's firearm to wrest it from him and he ordered another member of the patrol to open fire, the latter did so, killing three people nearby, one of whom was shot in the back as he or she was running away. This incident sparked a chain reaction in the rest of the soldiers, who began firing indiscriminately in all directions; "at that point we all started running.” Several people fell down upon being struck by bullets as they fled and, according to reports, three were shot again as they lay on the ground.42 52. The CEH says that there was no evidence that the villagers were carrying firearms or testimony to suggest any physical aggression against the soldiers, who were mainly surrounded by women and children.43 The CEH only noted the remarks directed by the villagers at the soldiers and the aforementioned attempt to take a sergeant's firearm.44 53. According to the CEH,45 nine people from the community were executed during this incident: (i) Abel Pérez Ramírez; (ii) Andrés Miguel Mateo; (iii) Carlos Fernando Chop Chip, a child; (iv) Hilaria Morente de la Cruz;46 (v) Juana Jacinto Felipe;47 (vi) Manuela Mateo Antonio; (vii) Pablo Coc Coc, (viii) Pedro Diego Andrés;48 and (ix) Pedro Medina Sánchez.49 The CEH also said that Maurilia Coc Max, an eight-year-old girl, died from the gunshot wounds that she sustained.50 The petitioners said that she was shot from behind.51 42 Annex 2. CEH, Guatemala: Memory of Silence, Volume VI, Illustrative Cases, Annex 1, Illustrative Case No. 3: Xamán Massacre. 43 Annex 2. CEH, Guatemala: Memory of Silence, Volume VI, Illustrative Cases, Annex 1, Illustrative Case No. 3: Xamán Massacre. 44 Annex 2. CEH, Guatemala: Memory of Silence, Volume VI, Illustrative Cases, Annex 1, Illustrative Case No. 3: Xamán Massacre. 45 Annex 2. CEH, Guatemala: Memory of Silence, Volume VI, Illustrative Cases, Annex 1, Illustrative Case No. 3: Xamán Massacre. She was shot at point-blank range while wounded. See: Annex 2. CEH, Guatemala: Memory of Silence, Volume VI, Illustrative Cases, Annex 1, Illustrative Case No. 3: Xamán Massacre. 46 47 She was shot at point-blank range while wounded. See: Annex 2. CEH, Guatemala: Memory of Silence, Volume VI, Illustrative Cases, Annex 1, Illustrative Case No. 3: Xamán Massacre. 48 He was shot at point-blank range while wounded. See: Annex 2. CEH, Guatemala: Memory of Silence, Volume VI, Illustrative Cases, Annex 1, Illustrative Case No. 3: Xamán Massacre. 12