A hiker was brutally attacked by ‘suspected cartel members’ while exploring a wilderness area near the US-Mexico border in San Diego County, according to U.S. Border Patrol El Centro Sector.
Officials said the incident occurred around noon Wednesday near the border of San Diego and Imperial counties, when a group of U.S. citizens hiking in California’s Jacumba Wilderness brutally attacked and pelted with gunfire by suspected cartel members.
A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) source confirmed to Fox News that two suspected cartel members, who were armed with handguns, were about a thousand yards inside the U.S. in the Jacumba area when they confronted two hikers from the group and began engaging them to shout. in Spanish.
The source said the walkers didn’t understand, so the gunmen shouted “come.”
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A group of hikers were rescued after being attacked by “suspected cartel members” while exploring California’s Jacumba Wilderness. (US Border Patrol El Centro Sector)
At that point, the hikers feared they would be kidnapped, so they turned away. When they did this, the gunmen fired two shots into the air.
When the walkers still did not respond, the alleged cartel members fired shots, striking one of the walkers in the leg.
Officers successfully rescued and evacuated the hikers and said all threats had been neutralized.
The hiker is expected to recover.
The border police have confirmed this that his elite Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC) and snipers are saturating 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 onto American soil. Let this serve as a WARNING: the El Centro Sector will not stand idly by,” the agency wrote in a social media post.
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“The safety of our citizens is NOT negotiable; There is no place in our country for cartel terrorists who prey on innocents. Enough is enough.”
Border Patrol officials are trying to determine which cartel the shooters belong to.
Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. Story tips and ideas can be sent to [email protected]
