OFFICER SHOT 5 TIMES IN VIOLENT BORDER CITY

A police officer whose photograph appeared in a USA TODAY and
USATODAY.com report May 18 about the surging violence against police
in the Mexican border city of Nuevo Laredo was in critical condition
Tuesday after he was shot five times outside his home.

The attack on Juan Pablo Elizondo came as he had just completed guard
duty Saturday at a hospital in Nuevo Laredo where some of his
colleagues were being treated for wounds suffered in past attacks,
said Abraham Diaz Jr., a Laredo, Texas, police officer and family friend.

The attack highlights the unrelenting threat against Mexican police
in a city where two major drug cartels are battling for control of
routes into the USA for shipments of drugs and illegal immigrants.

Two weeks ago, two Mexican state police officials were shot to death
in their unmarked vehicle. That attack came after five of Elizondo's
colleagues were wounded when gunmen burst into a restaurant where the
officers were eating.

More than 110 people have been slain in Nuevo Laredo so far this year
in a killing spree authorities believe could surpass last year's record of 176.

Earlier this month, Elizondo, 31, said officers in his department
were warned by superiors that drug cartel members had issued a threat
against city police. Last summer, Nuevo Laredo's police chief was
assassinated just hours after taking office.

Diaz said it was unclear what sparked the attack against Elizondo.
Diaz said he expected to speak with Nuevo Laredo police officials in
the next few days.

"Officer Elizondo is someone who is very concerned about what's
happening to his city," Diaz said. Several of Elizondo's family
members also served as police officers, he said.

"He had a lot of friends and family telling him to leave the police
force, but he refused."