TIJUANA : Highway Officer Shot to Death

A federal highway patrol officer was slain Thursday beside a busy highway, becoming the fifth Mexican law officer shot in less than a week in Baja California.

Sub-lieutenant Silvestre Anda Lira, a five-year patrol veteran, was one of two officers killed in shootings since July 4. The other three are recovering.

According to Jose Luis Gil y Duffo, federal highway patrol commander in Tijuana, the incident began as a routine traffic stop for speeding Thursday afternoon.

“The suspect shot him in a matter of seconds, for no apparent cause,” Gil said.

Anda was shot twice in the chest and twice in the face with a .45-caliber weapon. One round apparently fired directly into his mouth. Anda fired no shots, Gil said.