2 WOUNDED BY GUNMAN IN CALEXICO.Byline: Associated Press Associated Press: see news agency. Associated Press (AP) Cooperative news agency, the oldest and largest in the U.S. and long the largest in the world. A gunman opened fire inside a U.S.-Mexico border crossing office Thursday, wounding two U.S. Customs inspectors before being shot dead, authorities said. The inspectors' injuries were not life-threatening, and both were in stable condition at the El Centro El Centro (ĕl sĕn`trō), city (1990 pop. 31,384), seat of Imperial co., SE Calif., near the Mexican border; inc. 1908. It is a processing and shipping center for a heavily irrigated agricultural region (vegetables, grain, cotton, Regional Medical Center, said hospital spokeswoman Shirley Dole. The inspectors were identified as Robert Labrada Jr. and Nicholas Lira, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. sources quoted by the Imperial Valley Press. Dole, who refused to confirm their names, said one underwent surgery and the other will be transported to San Diego San Diego (săn dēā`gō), city (1990 pop. 1,110,549), seat of San Diego co., S Calif., on San Diego Bay; inc. 1850. San Diego includes the unincorporated communities of La Jolla and Spring Valley. Coronado is across the bay. for treatment. The suspect was shot in the head, apparently by federal officers, and died at the scene, said Customs spokeswoman Bobbie Cassidy. Officials refused to disclose his nationality or speculate about a motive. The shooting occurred at 9:16 a.m. inside the Calexico Port of Entry, where vehicles and pedestrians entering the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. are screened for illegal drugs or weapons. U.S. Treasury U.S. Treasury Created in 1798, the United States Department of the Treasury is the government (Cabinet) department responsible for issuing all Treasury bonds, notes and bills. Some of the government branches operating under the U.S. Treasury umbrella include the IRS, U.S. Secretary Robert Rubin, whose department oversees Customs, issued a statement expressing concern over the incident and wishing a speedy recovery for the inspectors. ``This is a vivid reminder of the dangerous - and often thankless - work that Customs employees do every day in protecting America's borders,'' he said. ``These men and women are literally at the front lines of the effort to keep illegal weapons and drugs out of our country.'' Residents who live near the busy border crossing said they were not surprised by the shooting. ``It's getting more and more violent every day,'' said Frances Diaz, who joined hundreds who watched the police activity Thursday. ``There are more people with guns and more illegals coming over causing problems and robbing people.'' Calexico, located in the Imperial Valley, is about 120 miles east of San Diego. |
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