A US fugitive has shot and killed a Mexican police officer in the elite international liaison unit – known as “the Gringo Hunters” – which specialises in arresting US citizens on the run in Mexico.
Mexico has long been seen as a place to escape US law enforcement. The Gringo Hunters was set up in 2002 to cooperate with US authorities, and have since arrested more than 1,600 fugitives.
These have included former Playboy models, Catholic priests and professional athletes, among fraudsters, murderers and paedophiles. The Gringo Hunters learn to spot the telltale signs of an American in Mexico, from stilted Spanish to a predilection for flip flops.
This time members of the unit were trying to arrest a suspect in the border city of Tijuana on Wednesday when the man opened fire, hitting Abigail Esparza Reyes, the 33-year-old leader of the unit in the state of Baja California.
Local media have reportedly identified the suspect as César Hernández, 34, who in December escaped from state prison in US, where he was serving a life sentence for murder.
Hernández’s escape made news at the time with video footage showing him sprinting across a field in an orange jumpsuit with an officer in pursuit.
Months later, the Gringo Hunters allegedly tracked him down to the Colonia Barcelona neighbourhood, about 30 miles (48km) from the border, and carried out an operation on Wednesday to arrest him but were met with bullets.
Esparza Reyes was hit and pronounced dead at a hospital.
Dozens of Mexican security forces from all three levels government, backed up with drones and a helicopter, then pursued the suspect to a house.
Nonetheless, Hernández managed to escape their cordon and flee the scene.
Local media reported that he managed to do so while running almost naked through the streets, before ducking under a tarp over a car and emerging dressed in a fluorescent green uniform, similar to ones used by transport police, before walking away.
The suspect is at large and the manhunt continues.
The state governor, Marina del Pilar, posted on social media to express her regret over the death of Esparza Reyes, who had led more than 400 operations to arrest US fugitives in Mexico.
“Abigail’s life will be honoured and her death will not go unpunished,” wrote del Pilar.
