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The violence in Juárez struck close to home Saturday afternoon when a shootout across the border sparked a response from law enforcement in El Paso. Paisano Drive was shut down from Executive Center Boulevard to Santa Fe Street for about 30 minutes to prevent people and vehicles from being struck by stray bullets, officials said. A gunman was killed and three Juárez police officers were wounded during the shootout shortly before 6 p.m. near the Rio Grande, a Mexican federal police spokesman said.
No injuries or property damage was reported in the United States from the incident, which took place just across from the old La Hacienda Restaurant at 1720 W. Paisano, El Paso police spokesman Detective Mike Baranyay said. Officers reported that no bullets crossed into the U.S. either, he said.
The violence began in north Juárez when gunfire was exchanged between Juárez police officers and a group of gunmen in the area known as the Monumento Al Cigarro and Las Tortugas park, said Mexican Federal police spokesman José Ramón Salinas. Salinas said federal agents arrived after the attack to assist with the investigation.
El Pasoan Ray Campos could see what was going on in Juárez from his home in Sunset Heights. He said he heard at least 40 gunshots from automatic weapons. The shootout lasted 20 to 30 minutes, he said.
Eric Valdez was at the University of Texas at El Paso when he heard the shots, but he thought the sounds were just part of campus construction projects.
Residents in Sunset Heights near UTEP took out binoculars and stood on top of vehicles to see what was going on across the border. At least six people had been killed in Juárez by midafternoon. More than 6,000 people have been murdered in the Juárez area since a war between the Sinaloa and Juárez drug cartels began in 2008.
David Burge may be reached at dburge@elpasotimes.com; 546-6126.
Alex Hinojosa may be reached at ahinojosa@elpasotimes.com; 546-6137.
Times reporter Aileen Flores contributed to this report.
http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_15855185?source=most_viewed
No injuries or property damage was reported in the United States from the incident, which took place just across from the old La Hacienda Restaurant at 1720 W. Paisano, El Paso police spokesman Detective Mike Baranyay said. Officers reported that no bullets crossed into the U.S. either, he said.
The violence began in north Juárez when gunfire was exchanged between Juárez police officers and a group of gunmen in the area known as the Monumento Al Cigarro and Las Tortugas park, said Mexican Federal police spokesman José Ramón Salinas. Salinas said federal agents arrived after the attack to assist with the investigation.
El Pasoan Ray Campos could see what was going on in Juárez from his home in Sunset Heights. He said he heard at least 40 gunshots from automatic weapons. The shootout lasted 20 to 30 minutes, he said.
Eric Valdez was at the University of Texas at El Paso when he heard the shots, but he thought the sounds were just part of campus construction projects.
Residents in Sunset Heights near UTEP took out binoculars and stood on top of vehicles to see what was going on across the border. At least six people had been killed in Juárez by midafternoon. More than 6,000 people have been murdered in the Juárez area since a war between the Sinaloa and Juárez drug cartels began in 2008.
David Burge may be reached at dburge@elpasotimes.com; 546-6126.
Alex Hinojosa may be reached at ahinojosa@elpasotimes.com; 546-6137.
Times reporter Aileen Flores contributed to this report.
http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_15855185?source=most_viewed
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