Pubdate: Wed, 31 May 2006
Source: USA Today (US)
Copyright: 2006 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc
Contact:  http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/index.htm
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/466
Author: Kevin Johnson, USA TODAY
Referenced: Always On Guard In Nuevo Laredo 
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v06/n635/a05.html
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Nuevo+Laredo

OFFICER SHOT 5 TIMES IN VIOLENT BORDER CITY

A police officer whose photograph appeared in a USA TODAY and 
USATODAY.com report May 18 about the surging violence against police 
in the Mexican border city of Nuevo Laredo was in critical condition 
Tuesday after he was shot five times outside his home.

The attack on Juan Pablo Elizondo came as he had just completed guard 
duty Saturday at a hospital in Nuevo Laredo where some of his 
colleagues were being treated for wounds suffered in past attacks, 
said Abraham Diaz Jr., a Laredo, Texas, police officer and family friend.

The attack highlights the unrelenting threat against Mexican police 
in a city where two major drug cartels are battling for control of 
routes into the USA for shipments of drugs and illegal immigrants.

Two weeks ago, two Mexican state police officials were shot to death 
in their unmarked vehicle. That attack came after five of Elizondo's 
colleagues were wounded when gunmen burst into a restaurant where the 
officers were eating.

More than 110 people have been slain in Nuevo Laredo so far this year 
in a killing spree authorities believe could surpass last year's record of 176.

Earlier this month, Elizondo, 31, said officers in his department 
were warned by superiors that drug cartel members had issued a threat 
against city police. Last summer, Nuevo Laredo's police chief was 
assassinated just hours after taking office.

Diaz said it was unclear what sparked the attack against Elizondo. 
Diaz said he expected to speak with Nuevo Laredo police officials in 
the next few days.

"Officer Elizondo is someone who is very concerned about what's 
happening to his city," Diaz said. Several of Elizondo's family 
members also served as police officers, he said.

"He had a lot of friends and family telling him to leave the police 
force, but he refused." 
- ---
MAP posted-by: Richard Lake