Mexican Agent Fatally Shot; Two Arrested
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SAN DIEGO — A Mexican immigration agent was fatally wounded at the San Ysidro border crossing Monday evening during an exchange of gunfire with two American robbery suspects, police said.
Gullermo Diaz Orendain, 57, was taken by Life Flight helicopter to University of California, San Diego, Medical Center with gunshot wounds to the face and neck. He died during surgery about 9 p.m.
The suspects, identified as Ruben Gonzalez, 34, and his brother, Mario Gonzalez, 25, are in the custody of Mexican police, San Diego Police Officer Ramona Warnock said.
The two are believed to have robbed a convenience store in the San Diego border community of San Ysidro and were attempting to flee to Mexico, Warnock said.
An off-duty San Diego police officer saw two men get into a stolen car on Coronado Avenue, she said. The officer chased the car to the border, where Mexican officials attempted to block its entry into the country.
Gunfire was exchanged between Mexican officials and the suspects, Warnock said, and Diaz Orendain was hit.
Jose De Los Reyes, a Mexican customs official, said the two suspects are U.S. citizens.
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