3 dead in gunbattles between drug gang suspects, military in northern Mexico

Military fights drug suspects in Mexico, 3 dead

MONTERREY, Mexico — A shootout erupted in the streets of a northeastern Mexican city Friday, killing two suspected drug cartel gunmen and wounding a soldier.

The gunmen opened fire on an army patrol outside the gates of a prestigious private university in Monterrey, the army said in a statement.

Soldiers seized guns, ammunition and hand grenades at the scene.

The wounded soldier is in stable condition.

The previous day, gunmen in a convoy of six vehicles opened fire on a navy helicopter conducting an anti-crime reconnaissance patrol in Fresnillo, a town outside Monterrey.

Marines aboard the chopper returned fire, killing one of the gunmen.

Separately, the navy said it captured the chief drug cartel operator linked to the Beltran Leyva gang and others in Monterrey. The suspect is known as Alberto “Bad Boy” Mendoza. Marines seized five rifles, ammunition and money in that raid.

And local authorities said suspected cartel gunmen stole vehicles and used them to blockade two roads leading out of Monterrey on Thursday, in an apparent attempt to impede police or military patrols.

The toll road to the border city of Reynosa and a freeway to the city’s airport were blocked by trucks and cars, two of which were set on fire a few hundred meters (yards) from toll booths.