Two Colombian Migrants Killed, Four Injured in Shootout with Mexican National Guard near U.S. Border

Two Colombian migrants died and four more were injured by Mexican National Guard members in a shootout with smugglers Saturday afternoon in Tecate, Baja California.
The migrants were injured by gunfire coming from three National Guard Members, who, according to authorities, were temporarily suspended from duty as a precautionary measure.

The National Guard members encountered two vehicles "head on" and fired in self-defense after they were fired upon, they said. The guard members disabled one vehicle and the other one fled the scene.

The vehicles were transporting seven Colombian migrants; two died on the scene and four were taken to the General Hospital of Tecate, Baja California. One migrant was uninjured and taken into immigration custody.

Authorities detained a Mexican national and seized one vehicle, one handgun, one tactical vest, two handgun magazines, three cartridges, and nine long-arm magazines.

Colombia's Foreign Ministry identified the fatal victims as Ronaldo Andres Quintero Penuelas, 20, and Yuli Vanessa Herrera Marulanda, 37 via its official X account.

"We express our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of our deceased compatriots and reiterate the National Government's commitment to provide all necessary support in this moment of grief," the Foreign Ministry wrote.

According to the Border Report, Tecate, which is across the border from Jacumba Hot Springs, is a known migrant smuggling corridor.