Officials believe that a convicted murderer who escaped from California corrections custody last year is responsible for the killing of the leader of an elite Mexican police unit tasked with apprehending fugitive Americans. The unit, known as the “Gringo Hunters,” focuses on capturing U.S. suspects who are on the run in Mexico. The incident occurred in Tijuana, a northern Mexican border city, where the suspect opened fire during an attempted arrest, fatally shooting 33-year-old Abigail Esparza Reyes, the head of the unit in Baja California.
The suspect, identified by local media as Cesar Hernandez, had escaped custody in December while being transferred to court in California. After months on the run, the “Gringo Hunters” unit caught up to him in Tijuana on April 9, leading to a shootout in which Esparza Reyes lost her life while Hernandez managed to flee the scene. Mexican news outlets reported that Hernandez was seen escaping almost naked, then changing into a fluorescent green uniform resembling those worn by local traffic police.
Hernandez remains at large, prompting a manhunt in the area. Governor Marina del Pilar of Baja California expressed condolences for the death of Esparza Reyes, acknowledging her courage and commitment to serving the state. Esparza Reyes had led the unit for eight years, conducting numerous operations to arrest American fugitives in Mexico.
U.S. Marshals, present during the incident but not directly involved in the shooting, assisted in providing aid to Esparza Reyes before she succumbed to her injuries. The agency affirmed its support for international partners in investigating the case and emphasized that those who harm law enforcement officers will face consequences.
