A US citizen shot and killed a top state Mexican police officer in an elite unit known as “the Gringo Hunters,” which dedicates itself to arresting US suspects who are fugitives in Mexico.
According to authorities, the unit was trying to arrest a suspect in the northern Mexican border city of Tijuana when the man opened fire, hitting 33-year-old Abigail Esparza Reyes, the head of the unit in the northern border state of Baja California.
Authorities said she died from the injury, but did not name the suspect.
Local media reports that the man escaped from the scene disguised as a cleaner.
According to a state security, the fugitive was wanted in the US for murder.
Mexico has for decades been seen as a place to escape US law enforcement.
DAILY POST reports that in 2002, the unit nicknamed “Gringo Hunters” was started to cooperate with US authorities and arrest fugitives who cross the border.
Authorities added that Esparza Reyes had led the regional team of the unit for eight years, carrying out more than 400 operations aimed at arresting US fugitives who had fled to Mexico.
At the time of filing this report the US Embassy in Mexico has not made any comment on the development.
