Mexican police officer killed by American in Tijuana

11/4/2025 6:21

A U.S. citizen shot

and killed on Wednesday a top state Mexican police officer in an

elite unit known as "the Gringo Hunters," which dedicates itself

to arresting U.S. suspects who are fugitives in Mexico.



Authorities say 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.



She died from the injury, authorities said. They did not

name the suspect. Local media reports the man escaped from the

scene disguised as a cleaner.



A state security source told Reuters the fugitive was wanted

in the U.S. for murder.



Mexico has for decades been seen as a place to escape U.S.

law enforcement. In 2002 the unit nicknamed "Gringo Hunters" was

started to cooperate with U.S. authorities and apprehend

fugitives who cross the border.



According to authorities, Esparza Reyes had led the regional

team of the unit for eight years, carrying out more than 400

operations aimed at arresting U.S. fugitives who had fled to

Mexico.



The U.S. Embassy in Mexico did not respond to a request for

comment.