Chihuahua Authorities To Pay Wounded Commander’s Medical Bills

EL PASO — ABC 7 has learned how the hospital bill for a wounded Mexican law enforcement commander will be paid. Taxpayers, or the county hospital will not be responsible for the expenses incurred by Fernando Lozano, who worked with the Chihuahua Investigation Agency.

Lozano was shot five times on Monday in Juarez in an ambush attack, but has managed to survive. He was taken to Thomason Hospital in El Paso for treatment, and security around the facility has been tight since Lozano started treatment there.

A spokeswoman for Thomason put the issue of medical expenses to rest in a succinctly worded statement, “The bill of the patient you requested will be paid by the Chihuahua State Police (Department). That is all we have to say.”

As for the cadre of local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies who remain on guard at the hospital, they will remain as long as Lozano is a patient. Authorities said Lozano, who is an American citizen, was likely the target in the drug war.

The various agencies will continue to work together to avoid any overtime pay, ABC 7 reported on Friday.