Escaped California prison inmate convicted of murder kills police commander in Mexico: report

A convicted murderer connected the tally since his flight from custody successful California past twelvemonth is present wanted for sidesplitting a Mexican constabulary commandant successful an elite portion known arsenic "the Gringo Hunters" aft a shootout with authorities this week.

The portion was trying to apprehension Cesar Hernandez, 34, who remains wanted successful the U.S., successful the borderline metropolis of Tijuana erstwhile a shooting occurred. Mexican constabulary commandant Abigail Esparza Reyes, the caput of the portion dedicated to capturing American suspects successful Mexico, was changeable and killed, Reuters reported.

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Caesar Hernandez (California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation)

Marina del Pilar, the politician of Baja California, confirmed Reyes' decease successful a connection connected Wednesday.

"I profoundly regret the decease of State Citizen Security Force Agent Abigail Esparza Reyes, portion participating successful an apprehension warrant enforcement cognition presently underway," she wrote connected X.

"To the household and loved ones of Officer Abigail, we admit your bravery and dedication successful the work of your state," Pilar added. "Our wishes for a speedy resignation are with you; Abigail's beingness volition beryllium honored, and her decease volition not spell unpunished."

Mexico has agelong been seen by transgression suspects arsenic a spot to evade U.S. instrumentality enforcement. In 2002, the portion nicknamed "Gringo Hunters" was created to cooperate with U.S. authorities and apprehend fugitives who transverse the border, the study said.

Esparza Reyes had led the determination squad of the portion for 8 years, carrying retired much than 400 operations aimed astatine arresting U.S. fugitives who had fled to Mexico.

A pistillate walks connected the formation adjacent to the borderline partition topped with razor ligament successful Tijuana, Mexico. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

The U.S. Marshals Service said its unit were successful the country but not progressive successful the shooting incident, FOX Los Angeles reported. 

"We volition proceed to assistance our planetary partners with the associated investigations. Those who perpetrate unit against instrumentality enforcement officers volition beryllium held accountable. To support the integrity of the investigations, USMS volition not connection further commentary," they said successful a statement. 

Fox News Digital has reached retired to the Marshals Service.

Hernandez, 34, escaped from custody connected Dec. 2, 2024, soon aft arriving astatine the Kern County Superior Courthouse successful Delano, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. 

Vehicles hold astatine the San Ysidro Port of Entry on the U.S.-Mexico borderline successful Tijuana, Mexico, successful 2022. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)

He was being taken to a tribunal quality erstwhile helium jumped retired of the van and fled, authorities said. 

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Hernandez was antecedently sentenced to 80 years to beingness with the anticipation of parole for first-degree murder, a second-strike offense, CDCR said successful a statement.

At the clip of his escape, Hernandez was housed astatine Kern Valley State Prison.