FORMER POLICE COMMANDER GUNNED DOWN

MONTERREY, Mexico - A former federal police commander was gunned down
outside his home in northern Mexico, marking the 10th execution-style
slaying in the past month in Nuevo Leon state.

Ricardo Ruben Puente, 46, was shot four times after he and his wife pulled
up to their home Saturday night in the affluent city of San Pedro. His
wife, who was getting out of the car at the time, was not injured,
authorities said.

Police said the killing appeared to be a drug hit. Authorities had made no
arrests.

Puente was shot twice in the face, once in the neck and once in the
forearm. Five casings were found near the car.

Puente served as head of the federal judicial police in the state from 1992
to 1994.

Nuevo Leon, which borders Texas, has had 19 execution-style slayings this
year - 10 in August alone.

Early Friday, a group of seven heavily armed men barged into a party in the
town of Bustamante and fired off more than 100 rounds, killing a man and
injuring two others.

Police said the slain victim had ties to the Gulf cartel.

President Vicente Fox's government has made a number of arrests against the
Gulf cartel, led by Osiel Cardenas. The cartel is based in neighboring
Tamaulipas state.