Hiker brutally attacked by ‘suspected cartel members’ while exploring wilderness area near US-Mexico border in San Diego County, according to US Border Patrol Sector El Centro.
Officials said the incident happened around noon Wednesday near the border of San Diego and Imperial counties when a group of U.S. citizens hiking in the Jacumba Wilderness, California brutally attacked and showered with burst fire by suspected cartel members.
A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) source confirmed to Fox News that the two suspected cartel members, who were armed with handguns, were approximately 1,000 yards inside the U.S. in the Jacumba area when they confronted two hikers in the group and began yelling at them. . in spanish.
The source said the hikers did not understand, so the gunmen shouted “come”.
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A group of hikers have been rescued after being attacked by “suspected cartel members” while exploring the Jacumba Wilderness in California. (U.S. Border Patrol Sector El Centro)
At that moment, the hikers were afraid that they would be kidnapped, so they turned around. After doing so, the attackers fired two shots into the air.
When the hikers still did not react, the alleged cartel members opened fire, hitting one of the hikers in the leg.
Agents were able to successfully rescue the hikers, evacuate them and say all threats have been neutralized.
The mountaineer is expected to recover.
It was confirmed by the border police for its elite Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC) and sharpshooters to saturate the area.
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A U.S. Customs and Border Protection Border Patrol agent talks to people on the Mexican side of the border wall at Border Field State Park in San Diego, California, U.S., November 28, 2018. REUTERS/Chris Wattie (REUTERS/Chris Wattie)
“These cartels think they can bring their war to American soil. Let this serve as a WARNING: The El Centro sector will not stand idly by,” the agency wrote in a post on social media.
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“The safety of our citizens is NOT subject to negotiation; cartel terrorists have no place in our country robbing the innocent. Enough is enough.”
Border Patrol agents are working to determine which cartel the gunmen belong to.
Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. Tips and story ideas can be sent to stepheny.price@fox.com
