Jul 19, 1:38 AM EDT

Calif deputies' shooting suspect caught in Mexico


LOS ANGELES (AP) -- A fugitive from the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list suspected of severely wounding a Los Angeles sheriff's deputy with automatic weapons fire has been captured in Mexico, authorities said Saturday.

Reputed gang member Emigdio Preciado Jr., 39, was arrested Friday night and FBI agents in Mexico have verified his identity, FBI and Los Angeles County Sheriff's officials said in a news release.

Preciado was in the custody of Mexican federal police awaiting transfer to U.S. authorities, FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said.

Officials would not say exactly where Preciado was arrested or being held or release any other details. The FBI and sheriff's department scheduled a joint news conference for Monday in Los Angeles.

Preciado was wanted on attempted murders charges and a federal charge of unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.

He had been sought since the Sept. 5, 2000 attack in the Los Angeles suburb of Whittier. A gunman opened fire on two deputies, badly wounding Michael Schaap in the face. The other deputy was uninjured. Schaap has since recovered.

Preciado was one of four people riding in a van that the two deputies stopped for malfunctioning headlights. Authorities allege that he immediately opened a door and fired 21 rounds at the deputies.

The four people in the van fled, but three were caught, including one who also was seized in Mexico.

Authorities said Preciado was a member of a Whittier street gang with a long criminal record that includes narcotics and firearms violations. At the time the van was stopped he was wanted for a parole violation.

The FBI had offered a $100,000 reward for Preciado's arrest and conviction and Los Angeles County supervisors had offered another $50,000.

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