Mexican Official Under Protection Identified As US Citizen

EL PASO, Texas (AP) – A Mexican lawman shot several times in an ambush is under heavy police protection in an El Paso hospital.

The security for Commander Fernando Lozano Sandoval is a precaution because of the recent wave of violence in neighboring Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.

Lozano has been identified by the El Paso County sheriff’s office — as being a U.S. citizen. The Chihuahua State Investigations Agency commander was shot Monday night in Juarez.

Lozano is at El Paso County’s Thomason Hospital, which is the only Level 1 trauma center within 280 miles. Details of his condition weren’t released. El Paso police and sheriff’s deputies are working with the feds to protect Lozano.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)