Suspects in a border shooting are shown. (Courtesy of Mexicali Municipal) |
Mexicali police arrested three suspected gunmen over the weekend on suspicion of trying to kidnap an El Centro man who suffered several gunshot wounds when he managed to evade them.
The victim, identified by Municipal Police as Jose Barriga, who is also a local farmer in Mexicali, drove himself to the east Port of Entry despite wounds to his left arm and leg.
An official said Barriga was flown out Saturday to Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, but hospital spokesman Richard Ramhoff said there is no information about him there.
It was unclear how Barriga, 57, evaded capture but witnesses reported that the gunmen opened fire three times near the corner of Islas Agrarias “B” and State Highway 1 and 8, according to a press statement from the Mexicali Municipal Police.
Imperial County sheriff’s Senior Deputy Investigator Jorge Cabanillas said the shooting is believed to have stemmed from a botched armed robbery attempt.
The gunmen fled in a blue Nissan Sentra but police in Mexicali arrested all three suspects in connection with the incident after cordoning off a section of the area where the shooting occurred.
None of the suspected gunmen were identified, but Mexicali police reported in the statement their ages ranged from 20 to 21. Officers there also recovered the weapons the alleged gunmen used, the statement reported.
Staff Writer Silvio J. Panta can be reached at 760-337-3442 or at spanta@ivpressonline.com
The victim, identified by Municipal Police as Jose Barriga, who is also a local farmer in Mexicali, drove himself to the east Port of Entry despite wounds to his left arm and leg.
An official said Barriga was flown out Saturday to Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, but hospital spokesman Richard Ramhoff said there is no information about him there.
It was unclear how Barriga, 57, evaded capture but witnesses reported that the gunmen opened fire three times near the corner of Islas Agrarias “B” and State Highway 1 and 8, according to a press statement from the Mexicali Municipal Police.
Imperial County sheriff’s Senior Deputy Investigator Jorge Cabanillas said the shooting is believed to have stemmed from a botched armed robbery attempt.
The gunmen fled in a blue Nissan Sentra but police in Mexicali arrested all three suspects in connection with the incident after cordoning off a section of the area where the shooting occurred.
None of the suspected gunmen were identified, but Mexicali police reported in the statement their ages ranged from 20 to 21. Officers there also recovered the weapons the alleged gunmen used, the statement reported.
Staff Writer Silvio J. Panta can be reached at 760-337-3442 or at spanta@ivpressonline.com
