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Juarez Police Commander Likely Shot As Retaliation

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Juarez Police Commander Likely Shot As Retaliation

Juarez Police Commander Likely Shot As Retaliation

CIUDAD JUÁREZ, Mexico -- A Juárez police commander is in a local hospital today recovering from a gunshot wound.

Rafael Ochoa Leyva is the police commander who heads the auto theft unit in the Mexican border city of Juárez.

Wednesday morning he was driving to work when two vehicles opened fire on his police truck. He was wounded but managed to escape and get to a hospital where he is currently being treated.

A police spokesman says Ochoa Leyva has reduced car thefts in Juárez by 70 percent and arrested more than 200 suspects in the last two years.

Investigators say there is strong evidence that the police commander was targeted in retaliation for his success. As of Thursday morning police hadn't made any arrests in the case.

Mónica Ortiz Uribe was a senior field correspondent for the Fronteras Desk from 2010 to 2016.